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HISTOET 



OF THE 



First teforniecl DutGh (Shmck 



OF JAMAICA, N. I. 






^^'•^^--^^-^'■^ 

iicn^iiueu i7ULCj:j I iiurcn ot .ijimaicaJ -- '^S^c ■•x'"^) •-'^ • 

1702-1884. By H.-nry Onderdouk, Jr., -^^ .'Iji^t* ^, .jM-^'^^ -^ C-^ 

M-ith appoudix by Win. H. De Hart. Nu- .V^ -:■ '//?5ll:- IVVV ■ ''^ ^^-': /'/ii'^k: V 
morons portraits and views. 8vo. clotli. v. ""• ■-'vW^V*^'''' ~ V? /TS,^' ^V /J^\ 
pp.207. Jamaica. 1884 PiT^r^TTTr-TT-zr ^='K2:>J%- vi^. '• 



' NEW YORK. History of tlie First 
Reformed Dutcli Cliurch of .Tamaica 




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FIRST REFOHMED ( DUTCH ) CHURCH, 

Fronting on the Main Street, Jamaica ; intended for tlie Congregation 
spread through all Queens County. Erected ITK! ; tar:en down 1P33. It 
was of octagon shape. In front are poplar trees, and on the west an 
old-fashioned ha,y scales. 



HISTORY 



IRST lEFORMED lUTCH IHURCH 



Ids 



OF JAMAICA, L. L, 



HENRY ONDERDONK, JR., 

A. B. University of Cambridge: 
A. M. Columbia College. 



A\riTH Aisr appejstdix: 



REV. WM. H. DeHART, 

The Pastor. 



pubijIShed by 
THE CONSISTORY. 

1884. 



ft 2^1 



PASTOR: 
WILLIAM HENRY DeHART. 



Elders : 
Isaac Snedeker, 
John A. Hegeman, 
Samuel G. Cozine, 
p?,ancis f gulick, 



Deacons : 

Thomas H. Fkedeeicks. 
David Baylis, 
John Hendeiokson, 
Ditmaes Eldeet. 



Treasurer : 
Isaac Amberman. 



Chorister : 
William Foeman Wyckoff, 



Organist : 
Maetha Ellen Phbaneb. 



Sexton : 
Benjamin F. Evekitt. 



^Jt^fz/lL. 



CHARLES WELLING. 

Printer, 

Jamaica, L. I. 



PREFACE. 

This History is compiled from such of' the Church docu- 
ments as have survived the ravages of time and carelessness 
of man. The Deacons had an alms-chest in which they 
kept not only the money but the books, memoranda and 
loose papers belonging to the Church, Besides these, the 
Journals of the Coetus and Conferentie, and the Acts and Pro- 
ceedings of the General and Particular Synods, published in 
1859, have been consulted, as well as the manuscript minutes 
of the Classes of New York and Long Island. All these 
afford scanty materials, but they are supplemented by let- 
ters sent before 1772 to the Classis of Amsterdam and since, 
about 1845, returned to our General Synod. 

At the building of the first church, 1717, a book was pur- 
chased in which were entered fully and clearly the names of 
contributors and the allotment of seats ; but thereafter the 
entries were few and far between, so that for years we have 
no account of the proceedings of the congregation. This 
prevents our giving a continuous record and makes our His- 
tory rather a Book of Chronicles. Many transactions, doubt- 
less, were not reduced to writing, and we may suppose that 
nine-tenths of the writings have been lost, or destroyed, as 
not worth preserving. 

The Consistory in early times do not appear to have kept 
a record of their proceedings ; and in later times we have 
only one or two odd volumes. 

There are no records of marriages before 1802. The en- 
tries of baptisms seem regular from 1702 to 1742 ; thence 
onward there are interruptions till 1785. There is not a 
single entry during the Revolutionary War. In the other 
Dutch Churches of Queens county the baptisms are record- 
ed with seeming regularity from 1741 to the present time. 

For the latter part of our History we have made free use 
of newspaper notices of the less important incidents of our 
Church and Sunday School. 



HISTORY 



First Reformed Dutch Church 



OF JAMAICA, L. 1. 



fHE organization of the Reformed Dutch Church of 
Jamaica is veiled in obscurity. It was probably by 
or before 1702, for the record of the first baptism is 
dated June 1, of that year. But the Dutch had gradually 
been emigrating from Kings county into the western part of 
Queens county loog before this date ; for in 1695 twenty- 
two Dutchmen (to escape an enforced assessment) had joined 
with their English townsmen in a "free gift" to the Rev. 
Geo. Phillips, Presbyterian minister of Jamaica, promising 
to pay quarterly as follows : 

d. 

John Hansen [Bergen] 12 

Hendriek Lot 12 

Dowe Jansen 6 

Garret Lubertsen 8 

Jacob Jansen 6 

Eidert Lucas 12 

John Cockef er 12 

Hendrick Aresen 6 

Stephen Coevert , 5 

Theodoras Polhemus 12 

John Lambertse 6 

2 





d. 


Peter Hendrickse 


... 7 


Johannes Williamsen 


... 4 


John Snedeker 


... 5 


David Loisee 


... 6 


John Brewer. 


... 5 


John Oakey 


... 10 


Jan Monf ort 


... 7 


Gerret Jansen 


... c 


Gerret Clasen 


10 


Hendrick [illegible] 


... 10 


Hendrick Hegeman 


... 10 



6 HISTORY OF THE 

But when by law and town vote* the Dutch were taxed 
for the building of the Presbyterian Church in 1699, they, 
or some of them, refused to pay ; and the matter was re- 
ferred to John Coe, judge, and Samuel Edsallt and Content 
Titus, justices ; and this is their award: 

"Whereas, there have been several differences had, moven, and de- 
pending within the town of Jamaica, concerning the building a meeting- 
house or church within said town; and also the accounts, demands and 
charges thereunto appertaining, which, with all controversies anyway- 
relating thereto, being, this loth of April, 1701, mutually referre 1 to us 
by the parties on behalf of themselves and others concerned ; we, hear- 
ing both parties, do give our award as follows : 

"That William Creed and Robert Reade, and all those of the west of 
Jamaica, that is, the Dutchmen, viz : Frederick Hendricksen, John Oakey, 
Hendrtck Lott, Theodorus Polhemus, and Elderl Lucas, who have not per- 
fectly and wholly paid their rates assessed for building the church or 
meeting-house, shall pay their parts unpaid within two weeks, and acquit 
each other of all fornjer controversies ; and we desire that they may 
amicably, agree and live in love together." — Town Records, II, 360. 

"Know all men bj' these presents, that we, Daniel Whitehead, Joseph 
Smith, Edward Burroughs, and Jonas Wood, Esquires, have received, 
this 28th of April, 1701, of William Creed, Robert Reade, and all of the 
Dutchmen living westward of the town of Jamaica, full satisfaction and 
payment for building of the church lately built in said town. Therefore 
we discharge and acquit them and their heirs forever, according to 
the award." 

The Dutch were soon settled at Springfield ; and Foster's 
Meadow even in 1657. There were also scattered settle- 
ments on the north side, extending along through Newtown, 
Flushing, Black Stump, Success, Little Neck, Great Neck, 
Cow Neck, Cedar Swamp and Wolver Hollow, and a few at 
a later date got as far east as Huntington. 

The Dutch having relations and friends in Kings county, 
at first went thither for worship, marriages, and christenings. 
It wao a long and tedious ride ; but sometimes Dutch min- 



* On the passage of Ibo Church Building Act, they laid aside the prosecution of building 
according to the town vote, and took hold of said act, by virtue of which the church was 
built and distress made on Churchmen, Qua'iers and Baptists, people of the Dutch c/in, 
gregation, etc., promiscuously for payment of the rates. Documentary History. 

t Edsall came from England in 1G43; and intermirried with the Dutch families. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 7 

isters from Kiags county and New York came out to Jamaica* 
and held services in the Court house or stone church, which 
being town property, was probably open to all comers. 

About the time of the organization of the church the Min- 
ister of Kings county, Wilhelmus Lupardus, had died, and 
the people there were divided in the choice of a successor. 
A part of the congregation made a call on Bernardus Free- 
man, pastor of Schenectady. After some hesitation and 
considerable negotiation he accepted the call and removed 
to Flatbush. Meanwhile the other party had applied to 
the Classis of Amsterdam for a minister, and they sent over 
Vincentius Antonides, who arrived in Flatbush Jan. 1, 1706; 
so that there were two ministers on hand where only one 
was wanted. Hence arose an angry struggle for the posses- 
sion of the church property, which lasted through nine 
troublous years. 

Lord Cornbury claimed the privilege of tolerating minis- 
ters. Here follows his license to Domine Freeman : 

COMMISSION TO MK. FREEMAN TO BE MINISTER OF KINGS CO. 

By His Excellency Edward Viscount Cornbury, Captain General and 
Govemor-iu-cliief of the Province of New York, New Jersey, &c., &c. 

To Mr. Bernardus Freeman, greeting: 

You are hereby licensed, tolerated and allowed to be minister of the 
Dutch congregation at New Utrecht, Flatbush, Brooklyn and Bushwick, 
and to have and exercise the free liberty and use of your religion accord- 
ing to the laws in such case made and provided, for and during so long a 
time as to me shall seem meet ; and all persons are hereby required to 
take notice hereof accordingly. 

Given under my hand and seal at Fort. Anne, in New York, December 
26, 1705. ,—>.—. 

Cornbury. -j seal. [ 

The church of Jamaica caught the factious spirit from 

* 1681. Some of the inhabitants of Jamaica earnestly petitioned Governor Stuyvesant that 
he would send one of the Dutch ministers of New Amsterdam to preach for them and 
baptize their children. In compliance with this request he sent Rev. Samuel Drisius, 
who could preach in Dutch, French or English, as occasion required, to Jamaica on Satur- 
day, January 8th, and on the next day he preached two sermons and baptized eight 
children and two women.— Dm^cA MSS., IX, 486. 



8 HISTORY OF THE 

Kings county and took the side of Domine Freeman against 
Antonides, as may be seen by the following petition : 

PETITION OF THE ELDEKS OF DOMINE FREEMAN'S CONGRE- 
GATION. 

To the Hon. Richard Ingoldsby, Esq., Lieut. Gov. and Commander-in-chief 
of the Province of Neiv York, New Jersey, &c. 

The most humble petition of Dorus Polhemus, John Hansen [Bergen], 
Christian Snedeker and John Snedeker, Elders of the Dutch congrega- 
tion of Queens Co. Showeth : 

Whereas, Mr. Freeman by orders from our late Governor, the Lord 
Cornbury, was to be minister of this congregation — and none else : which 
also was confirmed by the Lord Lovelace, according to which we Your 
Honor's petitioners were chosen and constituted elders of the church 
and now continue to be so. 

Nevertheless Mr. Antonides being very well apprised hereof, but mind- 
ing to make a division and disturbance in the church here (as we are 
told he has done in Kings Co.) has lately, as we are informed, taken upon 
himself, in concert with some few others to make choice of other elders 
of the said congregation and does design to publish them as such at the 
church or[Presbyterian] meeting house at Jamaica to-morrow and also then 
to preach to the said congregation, for the doing of which, as we hnmbly 
conceive, he has no manner of power or authority from Your Honor. We 
therefore humbly pray for the preventing of the ill consequences which 
such practices by him will inevitably produce, that Your Honor will be 
pleased, as has been usual, to order that no Dutch minister shall preach 
or exercise his ministerial function in this county besides Mr. Freeman, 
till further orders from Your Honor; and Your Honor's potitioneers 
shall ever pray. Theodokus PoiiHEMUs. 

John Hansen, f 

Sep. 19, 17011. Jan Snedekek. 

1711. February 4:. — Col Heathcote writes that "the Church 
of England * at Jamaica, is of late very much strengthened 
by a violent division, which hath for a considerable time 
been raging among the Dutch in some of the neighboiiug 
towns concerning their minister, of whom they have two, and 
their heats being grown to that degree that there is now no 

* The Episcopal church of Jamaica, the oldest ou the Island, was started about the 
same time with the Dutch Church. The first rector, Patrick Gordon, took sick at Jamaica 
the day before he designed to preach, and died eight days after. He was buried July 
as, 17112. 

• tl6Sl— John Hansen, John Tuncsen and Jerome Rapelye buy laud of the Indians at 
Rockaway. Ifi85— Jamaica allows John Hansen to set up a corn and fulling mill on 
Foster's river. 




STONE CHURCH, 

Erected by (lie town of Jamaica WM\ in which the Dntch Congregation occa- 
sionally worshipijed before 1710. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 9 

hopes of a reconciliation, many of those people have joined 
Mr. Foyer's church." 

1714. December 27. — The people of Kings and Queens 
counties, having got tired of disputing about the claims of 
the rival ministers, at length agreed to forget all past ani- 
mosities, provide two parsonages at Flatbush, and unite in 
support of both, as may be seen by the following document: 

SUBSTANCE OF AN AGREEMENT WITH DOMINES ANTONIDES 
AND FREEMAN, DONE AT FLATLANDS DEC. 27, 1714. 

The undersigned for the churches of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands, 
New Utrecht, Bushwick and New Jamaica, agree to pay (in New York 
money) half-yearly, to Domines Antonides and Freeman for preaching 
as follows : 



IS ew Utrecht £34* 

New Jamaica 40 



Flatbush £40 

Brooklyn 40 

Flatlands 30 ' 

They also agree to furnish the domines with firewood to be brought to 
their doors, and to keep in repair th<eir dwellings and garden fences. 

The domines agree to perform all the duties of their office, to preach 
twice a day on Sundays f. The sacraments to be administered by both 
ministers in their turn as follows: Busliwick, Brooklyn and Flatbush 
together as the first; Flatlands, Gravesend and New Utrecht together as 
the second, and New Jamaica by itself. 

In drawin:^ lots it was decided that Flatlands should supply the wood 
the first year, Brooklyn the second year, Bushwick the third, Flatbush 
the fourth. New Utrecht the fifth, and New Jamaica the sixth year. 
The preaching turns to be as follows : 

1st. Bushwick and New Utrecht. 2d. Flatbush and New Jamaica. J 
3d. Brooklyn and Flatlands. 
(Signed.) 
CoBNKLius Sebring. John Terhunen. 

Jeronimus Remsen. Garret Hansen. 

Peter Stryker. Peter Cortelyou. 

John Vanderveer. Theodortjs Polhemus. 

Johannes Schenck. Cornelius Van Brunt. 

J. Van Zandt. Theodorus Van Wyck.§ 

* 1715. Jan. 15. New Utrecht let Gravesend have and pay for a third of the preaching. 

t Sunday, not Sabbath, is the word mostly used in the old Dutch records. In the 
Heidelberg catechism the translator has substituted Lords Day for Sondag, the Dutch 
word for Sunday. 

t The origin of the name Jamaica is in dispute. It may have been so named from 
Jamaica in the West Indies, which was captured from Spain May 10, 1655. Hence often 
called New Jamaica. 

§ His ancestor, Cornelius Barentz Van Wyck, from Wyck, in Holland, was settled in 
Flatbush in 1660. 

3 



10 



HISTORY OF THE 



Subscription lists for both ministers were now put in cir- 
culation. Two of which (coutaining mostlj Flushing and 
Foster's Meadow names) have been preserved and are here 
printed :* 

Jamaica, Queens Co., Jan. 10, 1715. 

We the underwritteu of the Nether Dutch Ref. churcJi in Queens Co. 
on the Island Nassau promise to pay yearly to the Consistory ami their 
successors for the m;iintenance of both the ministers as their salary. I 
promise truly and honestly to pay without guile or trickery the half 
thereof in 6 months and the other half at the end of the year, as signed 
with my hand. 



s. d. 



Marten Wiltse 10 

Johannes Van Wyck , 12 

Adriaen Onderdonek 7 

Teunis Snedeker 8 

Derick De Meet 6 

Jurian Haff . 6 

Joseph Van Kief 8 

Margrietie Ganon 5 

Wyntie Wright 3 

John Marston 3 

Anthony Glean 3 

Thomas Eckisen 6 

Johannes Noerstraent 6 

Dirck Brinckerhoff. 13 

Abm. Schenck 5 

Anna Haptonstell 1 

Pieter Monfort. 9 



s. d. 



Abm. Dela Montanye 6 

Karol Dorlandt 6 

Jolianiies Demot . 8 

Christej-an Snedeker 20 

Willem Gritman 6 

Thos. Hendrickson 5 

Jaen Hendrickson 15 

Johannes Eld(!rsen 12 

Hendrick Hendrickseu 6 

Willem Jaense. 20 



Frans Masten. . . 
Barent Bloem . . 
Peier Huf ... 
John Haviland. 



s. 
6 

10 
9 
3 



Jan Montfoort 10 

Peter Montfort 5 

Theodorus Van Wyck .... 13 

•Cornelius Wiltse. 3 

Cornelius Hoogel-iend 9 

Tuenes Coevert 5 

Jan Dorlandt 2 

Stephen Ryder. 12 

Lourens Hof. 8 

Rem Adreanse 6 

Jan Boutse 4 

John Van Leuwe 8 

Adam Smith. 8 



s. d. 



Haen Jaensen 20 

Jan Hagewout . 10 

(^oi'nelius Barns 6 

Hendrick Aeten 6 

Johannes Coerten 14 

Jaen Baerisen. 12 

Benjamin Hegeman 14 

Aerent V. Noerstraen 15 

Jem Bortes 7 

Hendrick Doesenburgh IG 



* The spelling of names varies greatly. We mostly follow the original. Thus we have 
Haff, Hofl', Hufl'; Cockefer, Koc'ievaer ; Nostrand, Noorstraut, etc. :Jome are written iix 
Dutch and some in English, as Jan, Hance or Johannes for John; Jores or Joris for George - 
Magiel for Michael. 



FIRST EEFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



11 



s. 

Hendrick Baerisen 10 

Jan Bortus 10 

Jonathan Shaw 4 

Nath'l Monse 5 

Jacop Pietersen 6 

Hendrick Bfooher 22 

Jaen Doesbuerch. 6 

After Burtus 7 

Jaen Lenden. 6 



d. 



10 



s. d. 



Aiitonie Demoet 15 

Alaegiel Deraoet 15 

Jaen Eemsen 10 

Rem Remsen 18 

Andries Onderdonck 18 

Elbert Monf ort 14 

Stevie Jaense 12 

Jo res Springsteen 6 

Magdalena Baird 12 



Peace beiDg now restored to pastors and people the Dutch 
congregation became desirous of having a house of worship 
nearer home. The consistory accordingly drew up and pre- 
sented to the people the followiug proposals : 

THE ARTICLES OF THE CHURCH MADE APRIL 29, 1715. 



We the Consistory of New Jamaica in Queens Co. on the Island Nassau, 
composed of the elders and deacons of the Reformed Nether Dutch con- 
gregation throughout the whole of Queens Co. are unanimously resolved 
on a proposition to tlie congregation to build a church unto the glory of 
the true G-od and our Lord Jesus Christ to honor his name. 

God hath richly blessed us and enabled us to build houses for our 
families; but we are also bound to show our gratitude to God by build- 
ing a house for the Lord and for the family of God ; for all that we have 
and possess :s given us by a good God ; and that we may induce him to 
grant us greater blessings we out of our own means ought from motives 
of piety to build a house to the glory and honor of his name, for thus 
saith the Lonl : "in all places where I record ray name I will come unto 
ihee and bless thee." We are therefore assured that whoever giveth to 
the Lord for the building of His house the Lord will bless him with rich 
returns. 

We are therefore resolved to further the building of a house for the 
Dutch congregation ; and to prove the love of God's children not only in 
word but in very deed, we propose to the good-hearted brethren and sis- 
tei's, the following conditions in order that every one may be regulated 
by them : 

1. Those who are not able to give money toward the building of the 
church, but are inclined to work certain days to the building thereof, 
this service shall be received the same as money subscribed. 

2. If it should ultimately be found that thez-e is not a sufficient sum 
subscribed for building a house for the Lord (which we hope maj' not be 
the ease), then the subscribers shall not be bound to pay what they 
have subscribed ; because the failure of the good design is not to be at- 
tributed to them, but to those unwilling to give. 



12 



HISTORY OF THE 



3. It shall be the privilege of the congregation to choose superintend- 
ents of the building into whoso hands the money subscribed shall be 
lodged. 

4. The congregation shall choose 2 men to whom the superintendents 
shall render an account of the receipts and expenditures when the 
church is finished. 

5. The congregation shall choose church-masters [Kerk-meesters] for 
the first time to regulate the seats in the church. 

6. The highest subscriber shall have the privilege of choosing the first 
seat for himself and wife. 

7. Those who subscribe an equal sum shall decide by lot which shall 
have the first choice, that there may be no misunierstanding or dispute. 

8. Further, the holders of seats shall be obliged to pay the expense at 
any time necessary to keep the building in good repair, so that God's 
house fall not into decay, which business shall be directed and ordered 
by the church-masters. 

9. Finally it is understood that those who give no money, but their 
labor, or who give a little, shall have the same right by lot in the wages 
of their day's work at an appointed price. 



This signing is attested the 29th of April, 1715 : 



£ s. 

Adrianse, Eem 2 

Atten, Hendrick 1 

Bas, Abm 1 

Beekman, Wm 5 

Berrien, Peter 5 

Bergen, Jan Hansen ...... 3 

Bergen, Johannes, Jr 2 10 

Bergen, Tunis 2 

Berrien, Nicholas 4 

Blaw, Jiin 1 

Burtis, James. 1 10 

Blom, Simon 2 

Bras, Hendrick 1 10 

Barentse, Johannes 1 

Brinckerhoff, Gerret 4 

Brinckerhoff, Altie, widow . 3 

Brinckei-hoff, Jores 8 

Brinckerhoff, Derick 6 

Carpenter, Sarah. 6 

Cornell, Peter 1 

Covert, Tunis 1 

Crankhyd, Jacobus 6 

Demott, Antony 4 

Deraott, Derick 2 



£ 
5 

2 
3 
1 10 



10 



Ditmarsen, Douwe 

Dorland, Ante 

Dorland. Gerret 

Doosenburgh, Hendrick... 

Demott, Johannes 2 4 

Demott, Magiel 1 10 

Drack, Johannes 10 

Forest, Johannes 3 

Glien, Antony 1 10 

Gennon, Margrietie 1 

Gerretsen, Peter 2 10 

Golder, Wm 1 10 

Hegeman, Adrian 2 

Hardenberg, Jan 4 

Hof, Jurien 1 10 

Hof, Laurens 3 

Hof, Peter 3 

Hoegeland, Cornelius 3 

Hagewout, Jan 1 

Hegeman, Hend'k 4 

Hegeman, Joseph 1 

Hegeman, Benj 2 

Jansen, Stephen 1 

Jansen, Harmen ... 610 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



13 



£ S. 

Kip, Jesse 3 10 

Lott, Johannes 2 

Lott, Abm 3 

Loise, Jan 1 

Larabertse, Nicholas 6 

Luyster, Peter 8 

Luyster, Cornelius 5 

Marsten, Frans 1 10 

Marsten, Jan 6 

Monfort, Jan 5 

Monfort, Peter 3 

Nostrand, Rem 1 

Nostrand, Peter 3 

Ondenionck, Adrian 2 10 

Onderdonc't, Andries .... 2 10 

Polhemus, Theo Jorus 5 

Probaseo, Jan 3 

Renisen, Abm 4 

Remsen, Rem 2 10 

Remsen, Jores 2 10 

Remsen, Jan 2 10 

Remsen, Jacob 3 

Ryder, Albert 1 

Ryder, Jurian 2 



£ s. 

Ryder, Stephen 5 

Schenek, Abm 2 10 

Snedeker, Christian 8 

Snedek^r, Tunis. 2 10 

Springsteen, Derick 3 

Springsteen, Casper 2 

Springsteen, Jost 1 

Snedeker, Jan.. 2 10 

Stevense, Ste|.)hen 3 

Teller, Benj * 1 

Van Nostrand, Aaron 3 

Van Leuwen, Dina 2 10 

Van Leuwen, Johannes 2 

Van Derbilt, Jacob 2 

Van Hoek, Isaac 1 

Van Kleef, Joseph 2 

Van Lettingen Gerret .... 5 

Van Nostrand, Johannes... 2 10 

Van Wicklen, Gerret. 3 10 

Van Wyck, Theodorus.. 8 

Van Wyck. Johannes 8 

Wilsen, Martin 3 

Willemsen, Johannes 1 10 



The after following have promised to give toward the building of our 
Dutch church as follows : 



Aniberman, Paulus. .... 

Bras, Jan 

Blora, Barent. 

Cockefer, Janf 

Douwe, Alntta, widow. . 

Edsall, Janetie 

Elderse, Hendrick.,.. 
Fin, The widow[AnatIe] 
Haviland, Sarah 



£ s. 

1 
1 
3 
3 


Hoff, Jacob 

Jansen, Wm 

Kolyer, Catharina, widow.. 
Loise, Jacobus. 


£ s. 

10 
1 10 

10 
1 


5 
2 
2 


Lukasen, Eldert 

Monfort, Elbert 

Rapelye, Jores 


4 
2 
3 15 


2 10 


Ricke, Abm 


2 


10 


Wilsen, Cornelis 


1 10 



Hendricksen, Jan 1 7^ 



* Adriana, wife of Benj. Taylor, from L. I., joined the Dutch Church in N. Y., 1741. 

t 1765, Nov. 23. — Died, at Jamaica, last week, John Cockefer who was born so long ago 
that for many years past he has forgot his age. He often said he was a soldier in the 
Fort at New York, in Gov. Leisler's time (whi was here during tha civil war in 1689) and 
had been a man grown several years before he enlisted, and that when a young man he 
had often shot quails and squirrels on or near Pot baker's hill, in John street. New York, 
which was then a wilderne>ss. [He and his wifa Tryntie owned a house and farm of 150 
acres, at the village of Springfield.— irei//)ia«'« ;V^. K. Gazette. 

4 



14 



HISTORY or THE 



1715, Nov. 18. We the underwritten promise by these to paj- for the 
buildinor of our church the sums hereunder set : 





£ 


Adriansen, Rem 


.. 1 


Aten, Ht^nd'k 


..» 5 


Antony, Elizabeth 


.. 1 


Baird, Magdalen* 




Boorem, Johannes 


1 


Bloodgood, Wm 


.. 2 


Barensen, Cornelis 


1 


Biirensen, Ilend'k 


1 


Blom, Simon 


Bras, Hend'lc 




Bras, Jan 




Berrien, Clas 




Berrien, Peter 


1 


Boog, Hester 




Bergen, Peter 


1 


Brinckerhoff, Derick 


2 


Brinekerhoff, Jores 




Cockefer, Jan 


1 


Demott, Magiel 




Demott, Antony.. 


1 


Ditmarsen, Do i .ve 


9! 


Demott, Derick 


Dorland, Gerret . . ... 


.. 1 


Dorland, Ante 




Forhiesen, Johannes 




Gennon, Margiietie.-f- ... 




Gerritsen, Peter 




Hendricksen, Thos 




Hendrieksea, Jan 


. 1 


Hardenberg, Jan. 


1 


Hegeman, Hend'k ... . 


1 


Hof, Jurian 


Hogeland, Cornelius 


1 


Hof, Pjter 


.. 1 


Hof, Jacob. 


, , 


Janse.i, Harmen 


.. 2 



11 



15 



10 



10 



Jansen, Wm 

Lettingen, Gerret . . . . 

Lott, Johannes 

Liiyster, Peter 

Luyster, Cornelis 

Lott, Abm 

Marsten, Jan 

Monfort, Elbert 

Monfort, Jan 

Monfort, Peter, Jr 

Montanye, Abm 

Oaderdonck, Adrian, . . . . 
Onderdonck, Andries . . . 
Polhemus, Johannes. ... 

Polhemus, Tunis 

Probasco, Jan.. 

Rapelye, Jores. . . . .j. 

Kemsen, Rem 

Remsen, Jacob :. 

Remsen, Abm 

Remsen, Jores 

Ryder, Jurian 

Ryder, Stephen 

Robertson, Maria 

Schenck, Abm 

Springsteen, Casper 

Smith, Alida 

Snedeker, Tunis... 

Stiedeker, Jan 

Snedeker, Jan 

Vanderbilt, Jacob 

Van Nostrand, Johannes 

Van Leu wen, Din a 

Van Wicklea, Gerret 

Van Wyck, Theodorus... 

Wilsen, Martin 

Willemsen, Johannes . . . . 



8 
10 

6 
10 

10 
10 

11 

10 

5 

5 

10 
10 



10 
10 
10 
11 
10 

11 

10 



10 
10 

11 



10 



The lirst church stood nearer the road than the present 
one. A lot was bought (May 13, 1715) at the nominal price 

♦Widow Magdalen Kip, 1701, married Alexander Baird, a young Scotchman. In 170 i he 
■was BChoolmaster at Foster's Meadow. la 1712 he wa< Sheriff of Queens Co. 

t Margretie, wife of Jean Guenon, a Frjnchm.iu, liveJ in Flushiag in IGSO. She died 
1722, leaviag children : John Jeremiih, born 1671 ; Hianah, who married Joseph Hedger 
and Susanna, who married a Louereer. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 15 

of 5 shilliugs. The deed, written on parchment, (but not 
recorded) reads as follows : 

This Indenture, marie the 13th day of May in the first year of the 
reign of our sovereiga Lord Gaorge, by the grace of God over Great 
Britain, France and Ireland King, Defender of the faith, &c., and in the 
year of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesu^ Christ 1715, between Benj. 
Woolsey of Oysterbay in Queens Go. on L. I., wlthia the Province of 
New York, Gent, and Abigail his wife of the one part, and Nicholas 
Berrien of Newlown, in the Co. aforesaid, Gent., and Abraham 
Schenck of Flushing, in the same county, G^rit. on the other part; 
Whereas Daniel Whitehead, Esq., late of Jamxica in Queens Cj. afore- 
said, did by his last will and testament dated the 13th day of Nov'r anno 
domini 1703, give and devise unto his daughter Mary Burroughs, then the 
widow and relict of Thoma^ Burroughs late of the city of New York, 
merchant, and her heirs and assigns forever, a certain lot of land situate 
and being in the town of Jamaica aforesaid, containing about two acres 
lying next to the lot which did formerly belong to Henry Filkin, now 
in the possession of the execu ors of Samuel Denton dee'd ; of which 
said two acres of land the said Daniel Whitehead, died, seized ; and 
whereas the said Mary Burroughs, (who afterwards intermarried with 
"Wm. Urquharfc, rector of Jamaica, aforesaid, deceased) dieQ intestate, 
leaving no other children behind her but two daughters, to wit, the said 
Abigail Woolsey, wife of said Benjamin, and Mary Burroughs a minor, 
by which her death and the testamentary disposition aforesaid, the said 
two acres of land became the right of the said Abigail and Mary as her 
lawful descendants, and by representation ; now this Indenture wit- 
NESSETH that the said Bjnj. Woolsey and Abigail his wife, for and in 
consideration of the sum of 5 shillings lawful m )ney of New York to 
them in hand paid at and before the ensealing and delivery of these pres- 
ents by the said Nicholas Berrien and Abraham Schenck the receipt 
whereof they do hereby acknowledge, and thereof and of every part and 
parcel thereof do fully, clearly and absolutely acquit, exonerate and dis- 
charge the said Nicholas Berrien and Abraham Schenck, their and every 
of their executors and a Iministrators by these presents and for other 
good and lawful considerations them thereunto moving, for the use, in- 
tent and purpose hereafter mentioned, have granted, bargained, sold, 
aliened, enfeoffed and confirmed and by these presents they, the said 
Benj. Woolsey and Abigail his wife do grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfeoff 
and confirm unto them the said Nicholas Berrien and Abraham Schenck 
and their heirs and assigns forever a small tract of land, part of the said 
above recited two acres of land situate in the town of Jamaica aforesaid, 
beginning at the N. E. corner of the said two acres of land and to run 
southerly along the land late in the possession of Samuel Danton afore- 
said 5 English rods, thence forming a ri^^ht angle westerly 5 rods, 
thence in the same maimer northerly 5 rods and thence easterly the 
same length to the first station, to be bounded easterly by the land late- 



16 HISTORY OF THE 

ly belonging to the said Samuel Denton, northerly by the main street in 
Jamaica, southerly and westerly by the rest of the said two acres of land ; 
a-id all and singular rights, easments, privileges and hereditaments with the 
appurtenances to the same in any ways appertaining, and also the rever- 
sion and reversions, remainder and remainders, right, estate, title, inter- 
est, possession, benefit, claim and demand whatsoever of them the said 
Benj. Woolsey and Abigail his wife or either of them, of, in or to, all 
and singular the above granted small tract of land and premises with the 
appurtenances : To have and to hold the said above granted small tract 
of land and premises with the appurtenances unto them the said Nicliolas 
Berrien and Abraham Schenck and their heirs and assigns forever, to 
the use, intent and purpose hereafter mentioned, and for and to no 
other use, intent or purpose whatsoever : That is to say, to the intent 
and purpose that tlie said Nicholas Berrien and Ahraham Schenck and 
every their heirs and assigns sliall at all times hereafter permit and suf- 
fer the congre,'ation of the Netlier Dutch Reformed Church in Queens 
Co. abovesaid, or such other person or persons as by them or the major 
part of them shall be nominated and appointed, to erect and build for 
the sole use and benefit of the said congregation and their successors for- 
ever a church or public edifice for the worship of Almighty God, and 
further to the intent that the said Nicholas Berrien and Abraham 
Schenck and either of them and all and every of their or either of their 
heirs and assigns shall at all time and times hereafter, when required, 
assign, release and maiie over unto the said congregation of the Nether 
Dutch Reformed church in Queens Co. or body politique incorporated 
representing them, or any such succeeding congregation, or to any other 
person or persons as by them or their successors shall be for that end 
nominated and appointed, all the said small tract of land above mentioned 
to be hereby granted, with all edifices thereon, rights and privileges afore- 
said with the appurtenances to the same belonging to the use and purpose 
aforesaid, by such instruments and conveyances in the law at tlie cost of 
the said grantees as by their counsel learned in the law shall be devised. 
And the said Benj. Woolsey for himself and his heirs, executors and ad- 
ministrators doth hereby covenant, promise, grant and agree to clear the 
tract of land and premises from all manner of incumbrances whatsoever, 
and that he t'-e said Benj. and Abigail his said wife are or one of them is 
the sole owner or owners of the said small tra<;t of land and premises and 
have in them, ium or herself full power and lawful authority to grant and 
convey away the same in fee simple as above said. And further tliat the 
said Mary Burroughs the minor or her lieir.s or assigns shall within the 
space of six months next after her arrival at the age of 21 years, execute 
unto the said Nicholas Be^rrien and Abraham Schenck or such other per- 
son or persons as by the congregation abovesaid or their successors 
shall be nominated or appointed, (but at their proper charge) a release or 
other inslrument in the law as by their counsel shall be advised, for the 
further vesting or sure making of the said tract of land and premises 
unto them the said Nicholas and Abraham or such other person or persons 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 17 

as shall be nominated and appointed as aforesaid to the use, intent and 
purposes above mentioned. And hxstly that he the said Benj.Woolsey and 
his heirs the same above hereby granted small tract of land and premises 
with the a[)purtenance3 unto the said Nicholas Berrien and Abraham 
Sehenck and their heirs and assigns forever to the use aforesaid, against 
all manner of persons lawfully claiming the same or any part, parcel or 
member thereof, shall and will warrant and bj' these presents forever de- 
fend. In testimony whereof the said parties to these present indentures 
have hereunto interchangeably put their hands and seals the day and 
year above herein first written. 

Benjamin Woolsey. ] seal, l Abigail, Woolsey. ] seal. [ 

Sealed and delivered in the presence of us; 

Gabkiel, Luff, 
S. CLowes. 

Memorandum, That full and peaceable possession and seizen of and in 
the small tract of land and other the premises within written with the 
appurtenances was delivered by the within named Benj. Woolsey* and 
Abigail his wife to the within named Nicholas Berrien and Abraham 
Sehenck to the use and behoof within limited according to the tenor, intent 
and effect of this present writing this 22d day of June anno Domini 1715, 
in the presence of the witnesses hereunder written : 

S. Clowes, 
Gabeiel Luff. 

ALLOTMENT OF SEATS. 

171G, June 15. We the Nether Dutch congregation of Queens County, 
on the Island of Nassau are gathered and met in our new church at Ja- 
maica in order, according to the 5th article thereof made, to value and 
carry into effect our right and to choose church-masters for the first 
time. So we chose Jan Sne(,*eker, Joris Remsen, Pieter Montfort and 
Bern Remsen in order to see that the sitting places of the men and 
women shall beregulated and appoiute I after the highest subscription 
according to our 6th and 7th articles; and the seats which overrun, when 
the builders [i. e. subscribers] shall ha- e their own, shall be disposed of 
according to right reison and equity. And further if our church at any 
time shall have need of repairs, then those that have free seats shall 
pay equally to the repair thereof; and when any of the builders or 
owners of said church shall die, then their next heirs shall enter into 

* Benj. Woolsey a Christian gentleman and Presbyterian divine was born in Ja- 
maica in 1687. He officiated at Southold 16 years and then retired to his wife's estate at 
Dosoris preaching gratuitously till his death in 1756. — Gabriel Luff was an inn holder. 
Samuel Clowes who drew up this deed was a lawyer, an 1 land surveyor. He came to 
Jamaica in 1782 and died here 1760. 



18 HISTORY OF THE 

possession. Further if any of the owners and builders shall remiv-e out 
of the county then they may sell or make ovpr their seats to any one of 
said church within the time of G months after removal, or otherwise they 
shall totally forfeit their right. Lastly, the right of an election of 2 
new church masters everj' year shall I'emain to l^^e congregation, and al" 
waj'S 2 of the old ones shall remain in their plaqps. 

The church was eight sided or an octagon witlr a steep 
roof from the centre of which rose a cupola with a bell cast 
at Amsterdam. Instead of pews it had 14 long benches for 
the men and 13 for the women. Bench No. 1 was called 
" de Heere bank" or magistrates' bench reserved for digni- 
taries or men in office. Nos. 2 and 3 had each 7 sittings. 
Two shorter benches had each 4 sittings. The women sat 
apart, 8 or 10 on a bench. In later times they had ru&h 
bottomed chairs with the initials of their names marked on 
the back. Pews were introduced long afterward. 

There were 253 sittings sold (132 for the men and 121 for 
the women) besides the free seats. After the choice of sit- 
tings by the subscribers the following places were appointed 
and sold by the church masters : bench No. 13 to Alexander 
Baird, Tunis and Johannes Polhemus, Johannes Boerum, 
Molly Robertsen, Jacob Remsen, Peter Ditmarseu, Barbara 
Freest, Sarali Carpenter and Elizabeth Anton}'. Cornelius 
Van Wyck; Hendrick, Jan and Cornelius Cornelise also 
bought sittings. Two sittings on bench No. 3 were set 
apart for the two " Madams" (jufifrouwes) or wives of the 
two ministers. 

The pulpit was high, eight sided, and ascended by 6 steps 
with a banister. It was surmounted by a sounding board 
to reflect the preacher's voice throughout the church. On the 
wall back of the pulpit were two pegs for the minister's hat and 
overcoat. A wooden tablet or Psalm board was suspended 
conspicuously, inscribed with " Ps.\lm " and "Pause." In 
it were groves in which could be slidden moveable blocks 
with figures thereon to indicate to the congregation the 
psalm and part thereof to be sung at the opening services. 

The Psalms with musical notes were bound up in a thick 
16mo volume, with the Articles of faith, the Canons of the 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 19 

Sj'nod of Dort, the Liturgy aud Chatecbism. It also con- 
tained the Decalogue, Nunc Dimittis, Magnificat, Benedic- 
tus, Lord's Prayer, Creed and a short prayer before sermon, 
all set to music. It was the ambition of young ladies to 
have this gilt edged book (the covers protected with orna- 
mental silver corner plates and clasps) hanging from the 
arm by a silver chain, as they went to church. 

For Sunday collections the deacons had little silk bags 
[sacjes] attached to the end of a black rod 4 or 5 feet long. 
These hung from 2 pegs on the wall by the deacons' seat. 
These bags were supeiseded by pewter plates and these 
again by baskets as now in use." 

Tlie space under and before the pulpit between the elders' 
aud deacons' seats where stood the Lord's Table was railed- 
off, and was sometimes called the altar. In Dutch it was 
also called doophuisje or baptisterj', because the minister 
stood there to christen children. 

For a centui'y the chureh was not heated ; but the women 
had foot stoves and thin haired men often wore woollen caps 
or wigs. There were no horse sheds. The horses must 
have been tied under tavern sheds or to trees and fences 
along the highway. For years it was usual for the men to 
take a drink (and in winter warm themslves) in the taverns 
before divine service. The inn keeper was usually paid to 
have his best room open on Sunday mornings for the wo- 
men to sit awhile, rest and converse till church time. In 
winter they could here replenish their foot stoves with 
hickory coals from a blazing fire. 

People came to church on horse back or in their farm wag- 
ons washed and cleaned up for Sunday use. The harness was 
often made of tow^'arn. Some well-to-do people had a one 
horse chair with or without a top. It was not till about 
1820 that one horse wagons were coming into use, and still 



* As wampum was found in the old alms chest, it is supposed contributions were 
anciently male in that currency. In latter times each grown person was expected 
to put in a cent, a younger person a half cent. There was a great accumulation of cop- 
pers which had to be sold at a discount. 



20 



HISTOEY OF THE 



later that covered two horse wagons and the present light 
buggy were driven to church instead of the heavy farm 
wagons. 

In 1717 a church masters' book was bought for 8 shillings. In it were 
entered the articles for building the church, the names of subscribers, 
the buyers and sellers of sittings, etc. The following expenditures are 

noted : 

£. s. d. 
1717. Oct. 16. To Gerret Dorlant for the seal* [het seel] of the 

church 20 

For lead 15 16 

" a bell 8 

" plank 1 5 

To Abua. Lot for carting the plank 3 

For soldering the lead on the church 1 10 

" cleaning the church 5 

" carting the lead 6 

More 3 5 6 

More, expenses 5 6 

More, for paint 4 

More, 18 guldens and 11 stuivers f 

More, to the carpenter and smith, 18 guldens.. 

At the ferry, 2 gulden and 10 stuivers 

More, 42 gulden to Lot and 3 gulden to the 

smith 

More, 5 gulden 

More, 6 gulden for the knob [de Knope] X and 
2 s. to Pieter Haff 

1719. June 18. Joel Borres § for tarring [het picken] the 

steeple 12 

Rec. for 2 ropes 12s., for plank 8s. 3d., for 
nails 2s. 7d 

1720. June 25. To Thos. Antony for painting the church .... 15 10 

Gave to the poor 13 

Gerret Dorrelant for whitewashing and cleaning 

the church 12 

Gave to the poor 12 



* As the reoordnrs were unlettered men, they often misspelled names and corrupted 
their Dutch by introducing English words. Thus sele may mean ceiling and picken 
the iron rod of the vane. The coiling of the church was of boards, leaving a space of 
many feet between it and the peak of the roof. There was an inner passage to the bell- 
fry [tooben]. The bell-rope hung down in the centre of the church. 

t 20 stuivers or pennies make a gulden or florin, worth, as is said, 41 or 42 cents. 

t This gilded nob adorned the under centre of the sounding board. It is yet preserved. 

§ Joel Burroughs was a silversmith living in Jamaica, 



FIRST EEFOEMED DUTCH CHURCH. 21 

£ s. d. 
172'J. Oct. 1.5. For soldering the lead of the steeple and paint- 
ing the columns 116 6 

1730. Nov. 10. Tueiies Covert for making the fence [hej'nung] 7 

1735. July 2G. Wm. Stead, carpenter, by order of church 

masters 5 

173G. July 30. Lent from the deacons' chest, to pay church ex- 
penses , 4 

More, there is a bell to be sold ... 

To Cornelius Ryersen for glazing 3 

4 pounds lead sold for Is. lOd. 

1737. Aug. 13. For cleaning the church 1 3 

1738. June 15. '• " " 13 

Aug. " " " 1 3 

Oct. 3. To Is lac Lot for labor at the church 3 

A FEW OF THE TRANSFERS OF SITTINGS. 

1717, Alexr. Baird to Dr. Wm. Beekman. 

1719, Jan Blauw to Tice Laning. 

" Thos. Ecker to Peter Monfort. 

1720, Wm. Beekman to Johannes V. Solingen. 

1721, Jan Drake, fell to the church. 
Molly Robertson to Abm. Monfort. 

1723, Matys Laning to Barent Blom. 

1724, Johannes V. Solen to Johannes Coerten. 

" The corner behind the elders to Aaron Van Nostrand. 
" The corner behind the deacons to Joris Beniiet. 

1727, Wm. Bloodgood to Theodorus Van Wyck, Jr. 
" Anatie Fin, fell to the church. 

1728, Margaret Genong to Stephen Ryder. 

1729, S ira Carpenter to Abm. Montanye. 
1731, Casper Spring.steen to Wm. Moleuaar. 
1733, Besse Stillwell to Jan Simeson. 

" Christian Lupardus to Jan Wyckofif. — 

" Douwe Ditmars to Wm. Van Duyne. 

1736, Maria Smith to Styntie Humphreys.* 

1736, Adam Smith to Jan Van Arsdalen. 

1737, Barbara Freest to Tunis Covert, her .=ion. 
" Hendrick Doesenborg f to Jos. Golder. 

1738, Gerrit Dorland to Samuel Grix. 

* 1732, March '2". —Last week Elizabeth Wiltse the wife of William Humphreys, of 
Hempstead, wa.s brought to bed of a daughter, which child's grandfather hath a grand- 
moth«'r yet living, being of that age that she can say : " Grandson, send me your grand- 
daughter, that I may have the i>leasure to see of my issue one of the fifth generation." 
The child was baptized in the Jamaica church, .June 3. — y.T. Gazette. 
t He in 1663 received 25s. for killing a wolf at Foster's Meadow. 

6 



22 HISTORY OF THE 

1838 Benj. Taj'^lor to Isaac Van Hook. 

1740 Jacob Half to Lucas Bergen. 

1711, Peter Gerritsen to Abm. Probasco. 

1742, Johannes Van Wyck, f fell to the church. 

1742, Antony Glean, % fell to the church. 

1743, Jan Hegeman to Phillip Ried. 

1744, Albert Ryder to Jos Oldflela. 

1746, Adrian Onderdonck to I-^aac Onderdonck. 

1748, Derick Brinckerhoff || to Derlck Amberman. 

1749, Jan Vorhesen to John Lewkur, (Luqueer.) 
1750 Marten Wiltse to Andris Stockholm 
1753 Isaac Van Hook to Jan Jansen. § 

1774, Molly Sherlock «[ to Jores Van Brunt. 

CHURCH MASTERS OR WARDENS. 

1716 Jan Snedeker, Peter Monfort. 
Joris Remsen, Rem Remsen. 

1717 Abm. Lot, Joris Rapelye. 

1718 Barent Bloom, Elbert Monfort. 

1719 Jesse Kip, Garret Dorlant. — £11. 16s. 6d. in the alms chest. 

1720 Cornelius Hogelant, Andries Onderdonck. * 

1721 Nicholas Berrien, Paulus Amerman. 

1722 Johannes Nostrand, Teunis Snedeker. 

1723 John Schenck, Joseph Hegeman. 

1724 Johannes Van Lewen, Adrian Onderdonck. 

1725 Jan Prooasco, Abm. Brinckeihoff. — 9s. in cheat. 



1 1727, Miy 16. Adam Smith is fined 20 shillings for scandalizing Justice Johannes Van 
Wyck.— 1750 Sept. 28.— The account of John Van Wyck, Sheriff of Queens County for 
receiving, lodging and victualling sixty-three French and Spanish prisoners of war, 
from Juue 11th, 1748, to July 10th: and for transporting them from Flashing to New 
York, July 11th, was £94,4.— ^ss. Joui-nal,2 : 300. 

t 16B7. Nov. 21. — Antony Glean, drummer of His Royal Highness' garrison of Fort James 
sells his title to a home lot (formerly Wm. Comptou's of Gravessnd) for one cow and 400 
of good msrchantable brandwo3d. — 1715 Aug. 12. Antony Glean, blacksmith, of Flush- 
ing, desires to administer on the estate of Jas. Bettersby, schoolmaster, who owes him- 
for lodging and funeral expenses. He left some g lods and chattels, but no relatives. 

II 1747, Nov. IG.— Derick Brinckerhoff offers for sale, a very good plantation of two hun- 
dred and forty acres, on the road from Flushing to Jamaica, three miles from Flushing 
town landing, and two miles from Jamaica. The house has two rooms on the floor, with a 
leanto and kitchen thereto annexed, a new barn, cedar shingled, wagon house sheep- 
house, a good orchard of two hundred and fifty" trees of divers sorts of fruits, pretty gar- 
den spot — all in stone fence. A spot of ground in the rear produces forty loads of hay. — 
Poslboi/. 

§ He was great grandfather of Martin G. Johnsen, and came from Flatbush 1744. 

H She was widow of Wm. Sherlock, schoolmaster. 

* He was grand son of Adrian Andrewso Onderdonck who was living in Flatbush in 1672, 
and great grandfather of the two Bishops. Houry U. an i Benj . T. Onderdonk. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 23 

1726 Peter Monfort, Theodoras Van Wyck, Jr. 

17 gulden and 10 stuivers in chest. 

1727 Isaac Amerman, Peter Luyster. — £2 19s. in chest. 

1728 Frans Marston, Cornelius Wiltse.— £2, 19s. in chest. 

1729 Tunis Covert, Tunis Brinckerhoff.— £4, 19s. in chest. 

1730 Abni. Schenck, Cornelius Van Wyck.— £2, 13s. 6d, in chest. 

1731 Wm. Golder, Abm. Rike.— £1, 7s. in chest. 

1732 Jan Lefferts, Jeronimus Rapelye. — £1, 7s. in chest. 

1733 Jurian Eyder, Daniel Rapelye. 

1734 Cornelius Ryerse, Dirck Brinckerhoff. — £2, 12s. in chest. 

1735 Wm. Van Duyn, Douw Ditmars. 

1736 Antony Deinott, Elbert Hogelant. — 19s. 9d. in chest. 

1737 Abm. Polheinus, Rem Remsen. — £5, 5s. 4d. 

1738 Adrian Onderdonck, Rem Monfoort. — -£3, 19s. 4d. in chest. 

1739 Abm. Lent, Isaac Van Hook. — 7s. 5d. in chest. 

1740 Deriek Wortman, Martin Wiltse. — 8s. in chest. 

Hardly ten years had passed since the erection of the 
church before the people of Qaeens County wished to with- 
draw from Kings County and have a pastor to themselves, 
as we see by the following proposition : 

To the Members and Elders of the Church m Kings Co.: 

1727, June 7. We Douwe Ditmars, Dirk Brinckerhoff, Theodorus Van 
Wyck and Nicholas Berrien ruling elders of the church of Jesus Christ at 
Jamaica having taken greatly to heart the state of our church over 
which we are placed as overseers, conclude it would be more advanta- 
geous for us to have the entire services of a Pastor to ourselves. To 
this end we propose that both the present ministers may remain in Kings 
Co. and we be freed from them so that we may call a preacher for Ja- 
maica. Our reasons are : 

1. Because we through the blessing of God feel able to maintain a 
minister. 

2. In our opinion our congregation should be fed every Sabbath day 
with God's word. 

3. The members of our congregation dwelling 20 or 25 miles apart from 
each other, makes it necessary that God's word should be preached in 
more places than one in our county. 

4. Provision should be made for catechising the children and larger 
persons. 

5. Visiting the congregation from house to house for spiritual purpo- 
ses and consoling the sick could be better attended to. 

6. As we reside among Quakers, * Anabaptists and others it is more 

* The Baptists kejit up a meeting at Oyster Bay. The more emotional became Separate 
Anabaptists or New Lights. Friends were then numerous and influential. Their traveling 



24 HISTORY OF THE 

necessary for our congregation to have a watchman or shepherd of their 
own to keep the flocli together. 

7. Our children are apt to intermarrj' with the English, whereby they 
are in danger of becoming estranged from the nether Dutch worship 
and used to that of other churches. While their fathers yet live they 
should willingly for the benefit of the lives of their children provide for 
them a Netherland preacher so as to keep them steadfast in following the 
example of their fathers from generation to generation, in the sup- 
port of the Netherland church. 

We hope, worthy brethren, that our arguments may so fall on your 
venerable body as to give satisfaction and that you will be willing to take 
unto yourselves the services of both the present preachers, and allow us 
to call a minister for ourselves, which will tend to the extension of the 
Eeformed Divine service among us. Our intention is the welfare of the 
church ; and we therefore write with the expectation of a friendly 
answer. 

This petition had no result, for in the call of 1730 we find 
the two ministers spoken of as yet to preach in Jamaica 
till their death. 

1728, June 14, The writings of the church were give n to 
Stephen Eyder for safe-keeping, 

1730, Aug. 20. Authorized call for a minister, sent to the care of the 
Kev. Domines De La Moraisiere, Vos, Bakker and Noordtbeek of the classis 
of Amsterdam. 

As in general through God's never fully praised goodness, under the 
blessed reign of His Princely Majesty of Great Britain, George the 2d, 
the Word of the Lord now has its free course in this remotely situated 
country of the northern part of America, and the Nether Dutch Re- 
formed congregations are very much augmented and have spread them- 
selves far and wide ; so we have also particular reason to thank the Lord 
for his goodness to us here planted in a healthy climate and dwelling at 
40 degrees of latiturle, in the county of Queens, on the Island Nassau 
and Colony of New York, as we have an especial growth of the congre- 
gation around us. 

At last on the 20th of August 1730 there was a great church gatherhig 
in the church at Jamaica composed of the Consistory and a great num- 
ber of members, after that on the IGth ot the same month previously on 
the Lord's day it was openly published from the pulpit by one of our 
preachers that such a general church gathering would be held for the 

preachers, many coining from Great Britain, were eloquent and held meetings in every 
part of Queens Co. and gained many converts. The names of Francis Bloodgood and 
Cors. Van Wyck, Jr. in 173i and Wm. Van Wyck and his son John in 17.5S and John Rider 
in 1704 are mentioned in Friends' Records. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. ^5 

purpose of this weighty matter, inviting the metiibers of the congrega- 
tion to appear at the appointed place on that day with the Consistory. 

In this great church gathering (after calling on the name of the Lord 
and mature deliberation) they agreed in love and peace and have de- 
cided and determined to call a minister out of Holland; and the then 
ruling Consistory were charged and authorized to promote this whole- 
some work and to go round (each in his own neighboriiood) to the mem- 
bers of the congregation to ask of each help and consent, so that our 
congregation might be provided and supplied with a sufficient orthodox 
and pious Keformed Netlier Dutch preacher or minister out of Holland, 
according to the direction and order of the High Reverend Classis of 
Amsterdam, after the same church constitution, orders and church 
government or discipline according to the decree of the Synod of Dort * 
holden in the j^ears 1618 and 1G19. This was done and after the going 
around to all and each individually, there was not only a satisfactory 
consent but a content-giving encouragement and a pressing charge for 
promoting the work, with the addition of what each might be able to 
bring thereto, pledged with their signatures. 

These necessary subscriptions being obtained the work is at once made 
practicable ; and we the underwritten, being the Consistorj' authorized and 
empowered to forward the business, and first of all to dispatch and 
transmit an authorized call through our Rev. pastors and ministers 
Domine Vincentius Antonides and Domine Bernardus Freeman (named 
at oar request) to the care of the very Rev. Domines De La Moraisiere, 

* The Synod of Dort in Holland was composed of delegates from the Netherland church- 
es, also from neighboring countries especially Switzerland, parts of Germany and Transyl- 
vania. The king of Great Britain James I. who had urged the calling of the synod sent 
to it with the approval of the archbishop of Canterbury six of his clergy who took 
an active part in the proceedings, agreed to the canons, acquiesced in the condemnation 
of Arminianism and affixed their signatures and official titles thereto as follows : 

George. Bishop of Laadaff. 

John Davenant, Presbyter, Doctor and Public Professor of Sacred Theology in the 
University of Cambridge and President of Queen's College. 

Samuel Ward, Pre.sbyter. S. T. D.. .\rchdeieon of Taunton and Rsgent of Sydney Col- 
lege in the University of Cambridge. 

Thomas Good, Presbyter, S. T. D., Prascentor of St. Paul's Cathedral church, London. 

Walter Balcanqual of the church of Scotland, Presbyter. S. T. B. 

Dr. Joseph Hall (afterwards bishop of Exeter and Norwich in succession) preached a con- 
ciliatory sermon to the Synod from Eccles vii, 16 ; but being forced to retire from ill health, 
King James sent Thos. Good chiplain to the archbishop of Canterbury in his stead. — £10 
sterling per day was allowed by the Dutch to the English commissioners that they might 
live in a style suitable to the dignity of the church they represented; and £203 was given 
them to bear their charges on their return home and a gold medal of good value to each, 
representing the sitting of the Synod. They also visited several Dutch cities. — They 
were complimented by the President of the Synod with " an aciuowledgement of the 
excellency of the constitution of the church of England and that the Dutch regretted 
that the convenience of their own State did not admit of the same system of subordina- 
tion." (See Lingard's England and Fuller's church History.) 

The King of France, Louis XIII forbid his Protestant clergy attending this Synod, but 
they ratified the Acts at the Synod of Alez 1619. The Ref . Dutch Church in common with 
the church of England yet retains the Athanasian creed. 



26 HISTORY OP THE 

Vos, Bakker and Nordbeek preachers at Amsterdam. So we the under- 
written elders and deacons of the 4 united congregations of Jamaica, 
Hempstead (Success , Oysterbay (Wolver Hollow) and Newtown take 
the liberty to beseech your Reverences earnestly, and authorize you by 
these presents fully to call in our behalf an orthodox, sufficient and edi- 
fying Nether Dutch Reformed pastor and minister, a person of whose 
learning and piety and other laudable virtues you are satisfactorily 
assured (and with full qualifications to send us) to preach the word of 
the Lord, pure, plain and powerful, with thorough and familiar catechis- 
ing to exercise those disposed to learn, in the treating of the Heidelberg 
catechism, to administer the Holy Sacraments faithfully according to 
Christ's institution, to exercise christian discipline in conjunction with 
the overseers of the congregation diligently and prudently, to visit the 
sick, and further to do all things in a christian and peaceable way as the 
office of a faithful servant of Christ Jesus according to God's word and 
as the good order of the church requires, after the way of the Synod of 
Dort in the year 1618, 1619, and as is usual in the Nether Dutch Re- 
formed churches in this land. 

Besides with mutual respect we make it known to you that our congre- 
gations bj' and around here have many residents who are free thinkers, 
Quakers and Anabaptists who moreover are without God's service, 
whereto our pastor must needs watch to look after the congregations so 
that the Lord Jesus Christ may triumph in his person, honor and love. 
Whereto gifts, earnest preaching, zealous application, appropriate cate- 
chising and further, to edify with a Godly life are necessary. So also 
your Reverences are requested to give heed that his gifts of speech are 
clear and intelligible so that the whole congregation may be edified, and 
that many members may have a desire to fill up the church. 

But under this head we must make a more particular descrip- 
tion of the service required according to the coastitutioa of our 
congregation : 

1. The called minister must preach at 4 different places viz. : Jamaica, 
Hempstead (Success), Oysterbay (Wolver Hollow) and Newtown. 

2. He shall for himself choose his place of residence. If he chooses 
that of Jamaica, he must understand that the church of Newtown is IJ 
Dutch miles from his residence, the church of (Success in) Hempstead 2 
miles and the church of (Wolver Hollow in) Oysterbay 4 miles. 

3. The preaching turns on each Lord's day shall go round, beginning 
at Jamaica, and so through each congregation, till the turn comes round 
again to Jamaica. 

4. When the turn of going round comes to Jamaica at the time when 
it is the turn for the preaching of our present ministers, he shall then per- 
form service in Oysterbay or Hanpjtoal, as it s'.iall seam best; or the 
2 encountering domincs may both bo present at Jamaica to hear each 
Other for their own edification, but with consent of the Consistory there- 
unto consulted. 



FIEST EEFOEMED DUTCH CHURCH. 27 

5. In consideration of tl:ese continual changes of preacliing places 
lying far off from one anotlier tiie congregation wish to find a person who is 
sound and stron-j; in body so as to endure the fatigue of serving the con- 
gregations ; and tlaen the limitation of his age is fixed, that he shall not 
exceed 35 years. 

6. He shall in the best way he can, go to the places where the preach- 
ing turn shall be. 

7. He shall preach twice every Lord's day, and in the afternoon shall 
handle the subject of catechism according to the Heidelberg catechism; 
and with advice of his Consistory shall catechise. 

8. In the 3 Winter months he shall preach but once on the Lord's day, 
as also on Christmas, on the 1st and 2d days of the New year, and As- 
cension day as also on the 2 days of Paas (Easter) and Pinxter (Whit- 
sunday). * 

At least 6 months in the year shall his Reverence catechise each 
week that part of the congregation where he preaches on Sunday, at 
such time and place as shall best suit him, but with advice of the Con- 
sistory. 

10. Four times a year shall the Lord's Supper go round (the churches) 
by turns. Where the service of the Lord's Supper shall be, there shall as 
often in the week be made a visitation of the members, and there shall 
the Friday's preparatory service and the Sunday afternoon's thanksgiv- 
ing sermon be given. 

For an encouragement to accept this call, the person called will be 
recompensed as follows : 

I. A salary of £S3, New York money, yearly during his service with 
us, which is, 640 guilders. We doubt not, if his Reverence's gifts edify the 
congregation, that his salary would be raise i up to £100 ; and on the death 
of our present ministers it shall by the courtesy of the congregation con- 
tinue. 

11. These sums shall be paid to his Reverence by the elders or dea- 
cons or their order, each half year, the just half promptly. 

III. The salary shall begin with his first preaching before his congre- 
gations, but his Reverence shall at once at his coming and first preach- 
ing here receive a half year's salary being £40. 

IV. For the cost of his coming over it is provided that his Reverence 
may be unconcerned. Thereto £40 are set over, so that he shall be held 

* Though the church inculcated the observance of Christmas, Paas (Easter) and Pinx- 
ter (Whitsuntide) yet with the negro slaves it was high holiday. They roamed about the 
neighborhood, calling at every house for a drink, and late at night returned home reel- 
ing, noisy, and quarrelsome, disobedient to the mistress and sulky to the master. The 
good housewife usually made a keeler full of doughnuts for Christmas, and gave 2 or 3 
with a mug of cider to every caller. It required another day or two to get the negroes in 
working order No wonder our ancestors dreaded the recurrence of holy days whose 
observance and significance were perverted to licentiousness little worse perhaps than 
the pai-ading, target shooting and hog guessing of our modern Thanksgiving dajr. 



28 HISTORY OF THE 

free from his congregation in traveling to liis congregation liither, in case 
that £J0 shall not equal the cost. 

V. A suitable dwelling for a preacher shall be built for his Reverence 
at his coming and after the choice of residence shall be made by him, 
either by the church of Jamaica or by the church of Hempstead, or be- 
tween the two, having by it some land sufficient for a suitable orchard 
and pasture ground for 2 cows and a horse. 

VI. Also his Eeverence shall be provided with sufficient fire-wood for 
Winter and Summer and to be brought before his door. 

"VII. Also shall his Reverence at his coming be presented with an able 
horse with his equipments. Yet thereafter shall he always provide him- 
self with a horse in order to perform his duties everywhere in the con- 
gregation, as they shall be required.— It shall depend on the courtesy of 
his* congre.?ation to provide their minister with horses. 

VIII. Also entertainment and charges shall be provided for the time 
whenever he preaches or does any service in another congregation where 
he does not dwell. 

All which extraordinary advantages for the use and support of this 
temporal life should in some measure make the person called willing to 
accept, in that Long Island is above measure fruitful in all sorts of the 
means of living, but especially are we hoping that the person called 
through the grace of the Holy Spirit will be prevailed on to give up him- 
self and his fatherland in order to do service here to the church of Jesus. 

Very Revd. Domines and fathers Morai^iere, Vos, Bakker and Noord- 
beek, we pray you for Christ's sake to do this service for us and our 
congregation, to send us soon a minister, as is above expressed. The 
Jehovah shall provide this, to find a person sooner or 1-ater, and so with 
full church qualifications to send us. We shall be thankful to your 
Reverences our life long for your pains and labor; and we will ratify all 
this as if we in person had done there what you have done for us, and 
the person sent to us shall be received in honor and love by us ; and there 
upon we subscribe this authorized instrument affectionately with our 
hands and remain with respect and esteem your Reverences' servants 
and brothers in the Lord. Amen. 

Signed for greater faith in presence of our present ministers. 

Deacons: Tunis Covert, Elders: Peter Berrien, 

JoosT Springsteen, Johannes Van VVyck, 

Francis Marston, Abram Lot, 

Abraham Monfoort, Cornelis Reyerse, 

Jacobus Monfoort, Symen Loyse, 

Adriaen Onderdonck. 

After calling on the Holy name of the Lord we the underwritten minis- 
ters have with our eyes seen the signing of the above written elders and 

deacons this 26th of Jan. 1731. 

Barnardus Freeman, 

Vincentius Antonides. 




REV. BERNARD US FREEMAN. 



FROM AN ENGRAVING PREFiyED TO HIS WORK DE WEECSCHAALE DER GENAOE COD' 
plJIi IN AM^TEROAM 1721. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 29 

SALARY FOR THE MINISTER TO BE CALLED RAISED TO £100. 

These proceedings have we the present ruling elders according to our 
office ordered from a sense of dutj', not without consultation with many- 
intelligent and well meaning members and also with hearty approval of 
both our present ministers, to undertake for another going round and 
soliciting a new subscription from the respective members for increasing 
the salary to £100 a year for the preacher to be called, and so on the old 
footing by and according to the foregoing friendly agreement and reso- 
lution, that all 4 united congregations should have like service so that 
the unity of love should not be weakened, in that each should freely out 
of a christian love contribute something to God's service. 

This is a cause that concerns us all and the welfare of the congrega- 
tion which we all with one heart and zeal in unity of love must promote. 
We all are therefore pledged. The necessitj- of the cause demands it. 
Oh that we unanimously might join hands with one another and without 
any selfish aim seek the welfare of the congregations and provide that at 
the death of our ministers, who both are come to old age, the congrega- 
tions which are now so sweetly united may not, by being without any 
teacher, be split up and the members themselves be as scattered sheep 
who have no shepherd. 

We underwritten who have with our hands written or caused to be 
written, promise then for this proposal and re^iuest of the Consistory 
above mentioned, yearly and each year so long as the called minister 
shall be in actual service with us to pay over and above the foregoing 
(with our signatures pledged for the filling up of the salary of £100 for 
the called minister) such sums in cash as with our name is expressed. — 
The Lord grant prosperity and success to this our work. 

Baknakdus Fkeeman, 



ViNCENTius Antonides, '' ^itnesses. 



ES, I 



Additions to former subscriptions, to raise £100 for two ministers, Aug. 
20 1730. The other lists are lost. 



s. d. 

Minne Schenck 6 8 

Cornelius Polhemus 7 8 

Adriaen Onder Jonck 7 

Marten Wiltse... 3 9 

MartynWiltse 3 9 

Daniel Hegeman 5 

Jan Vauderbilt 5 



s. 

Andries Onderdonck 5 

Andries Oaderdonck 6 

Jacobus Monfoort 9 

Eida Monfoort 3 

Theodorus Van Wyck 4 

Abraham Monfoort 4 

Roelof Schenck 6 



Proposition of the Consistories of the 4 united congregations of Jamai- 
ca, Flushing, Hempstead, Oysterbay and Newtown to the subordinate 
members of the same and all well meaning christians : 



30 HISTORY OF THE 

It is known how on the 20th of August 1730 a great general church 
gathenng was held in the church at Jamaica, composed of the Consis- 
tory and a great number of the members ; and how they in this great 
church gathering after calling on the name of the Lord and after mature 
deliberation in love and peace agreed and resolved to call a preacher 
out of Holland in such a way and terms which by one another were fixed 
on and established, viz. : that each of the 4 united congregations should 
have like service : that the preacher called should have £80 for salary, 
and that the members each according to his ability should out of a true 
christian love contribute and bring something thereto ; and the then gov- 
erning Consistory were authorized and commanded to go round and en- 
quire what each would be willing to bring. So it has been done. Each 
has by his signature promised and declared what he is willing to bring 
freely to the above named design. In pursuance of this determination and 
resolution the then ruling Consistory after obtaining the signatures had dis- 
patched an authorized call to the domines preachers in the very Reverend 
classis of Amsterdam (mentioned in the authorized letter). And these 
domines according to their letter have used all diligence and means to find 
a suitable preacher, but they have not yet met with any one inclined to ac- 
cept the call and they declare their hearts' grief that they cannot ac- 
complish their desire of doing the congregations a service and complain 
of being very much distressed with this commission ; and they write 
that beside the burdensomeness of the call and the weight of the service 
on account of the distance of the places which must be served, and especi- 
ally the smallness of the salary, — these all hold them back. This last ob- 
jection we especially take into consideration, as in the authorize;! letter 
is also mentioned, that the salary (if the pr^^acher callel with his endow- 
ments should give edification to the congregations) should well mount 
up to £100, and order that we should establish the salary from £S0, to 
£100, so that we may advance with some moderation to the relieving of 
his service without much prejudice of the congregations. 



1732, Sept. 9. The Dutch people of Ojsterbay met and 
agreed to go on with the buihling of a church and appoint- 
ed Adrian Hegeman, Jarian Hatf, Jacob Van Nostraud and 
Barent Van Wjck a building coimuittee who bought of Ed- 
mond Wright for £6, an acre of ground at Wolver Hollow 
on the road from Jericho to Matinecock. They met in the 
new church April 25, 1734, and chose Peter Lujster and 
Cornelius Hoogland church masters to arrange the sittings. 
The record of baptisms does not begin till Oct. 21, 1711, 
after the settlement of Goetschius. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



31 



SUBSCEIBEKS' NAMES. 



£. s. 

Albertson, Nicholas 1 5 

Amerman, Johannis 2 5 

Bennet, Jeromus 2 5 

Brinckerhoff, Abm 2 5 

Couwenhoven, Jan 4 10 

Cusyou (Cashow), Johannes. 2 5 

Durland, Jan 2 5 

Ditmarse, Douwe 4 10 

Garretsen, Abm 4 10 

Haff, Jacob 4 10 

Haff, Jurian* 5 10 

Haff, Jan 2 5 

Hardenberg, Hendrickus ... 25 

Hegenian, Petrus 4 10 

Hoogland, Cornelius 2 5 

Hoogland, William 2 5 

Janse, Steven 4 10 

Koole, Barent 3 5 

Loyse, Simen 8 

Luyster, Peterf 6 15 

Lickquier, Jan 2 5 

Monfoort, Jacobus 6 15 

Millear, Jo.st 2 5 

Monfoort, Eidae 2 5 

Monfoort, Jacobus 2 5 

Monfoort, Peter 2 5 

Noorstrant, Daniel 2 5 

Onderdonck, Adriaen 2 5 



£. s. 

Onderdonck, Andries. 1 5 

Polheraus, Cornelius 2 5 

Euland, Jan 2 5 

Kyerse, Cornelius 1 5 

Bemsen, Isaac 2 5 

Reyder, Steven 2 10 

Eemsen, Jan 1 5 

Snedeker, Gerret 2 10 

Symense, Johannis 2 5 

Symense, Frederick 2 5 

Symense, Mouris 2 5 

Snedeker, Gerret 2 5 

Schenck, Minne 2 5 

Schenck, Eoelof 1 5 

Van Nostrand, Jacob 2 5 

Van Nostrand, Albert 2 5 

Van Wyck, Barent, 5 15 

Van Vores, Lucas 2 5 

Van Vores, Abm 2 5 

Van Vores Willem 2 5 

Voorhis, Daniel 2 5 

Van Wyck, Theodorus " 2 5 

Van Wyck, Theodorus 2 5 

Van Wyck, Johannes 1 5 

Walters, William 2 5 

Woertman, Jan 3 5 

Wiltse, Martin 1 5 

Wiltse, Martin 1 5 



The Building Committee of the Reformed Dutch Churcb, 
Success, April 14, 1731, were Aaron Van Nostrand, Martin 
"Wiltsie, Theodorus Van Wjck, Antony De Mott, Michael De 
Mott, Andries Onderdonck and Cornelius Van Wjck. The 
congregation met in the new church, Aug. 11, 1732, and 
chose Cornelius Eyersen and Adrian Onderdonck church 
masters. I 



* Uriah or Jurian Haff of Flushing bought land in 1721 near Sucksoos' wigwam. 

t Peter Luyster of Flushing for £300 bought 82 acres of land of Dickinson, near Littla 
Plains. 

t In 1731 Martin Wiltse for 25 shillings sold to Adrian Onderdonck and Cornelius Ryer- 
sen a half acre of ground at Success Pond for a chvirch for the Reformed Dutch Congre- 
gation of Hempstsad to worship Almighty God in, His name was cut on the comer stone. 



3(5 HISTORY OF THE 

land, agents and trustees appointed by the 4 Dutch Ke- 
formed congregations of Queens Co. The site is now occu- 
pied by Aaron A. Degrauw. It was then bounded south by 
the Main street, west by Samuel Dean, north by Dean and 
Amos Smith and east by Amos Smith. Q. Co. Records, D. 80. 

PARSONAGE REPAIEED. 

1742, April 17. We the Consistory of the 4 united congregations of the 
Nether Dutch Reformed Churches of Newtown, Jamaica, Hempstead and 
Oysterbaj' have met ; and we the deacons with consent of the elders have 
made over the sum of £162, 13s. 7d. to the 8 authorized persons of the 4 
above named congregations in order to further repair the Domi- 
ne's dwelling, in compliance with the requirements of the call. Ac- 
cording to the foregoing agreement and when that is accomplished, then 
shall the 8 above named persons return the overshot of the money to the 
4 above named Consistories, to Newtown its 4th part to it^ deacoas, to 
Jamaica its 4th part to its deacons ; to Hempstead its 4th part to its dea- 
cons ; to Oysterbay its 4th part to its deacons. 

"We the underwritten promise to fulfill the above named agreement: 

Witnesses : 

Hans Bergen, Abraham Lent, 

Moses Van Noerstrand, Adriaen Onderdonck, 

CORNELIS EEYERSE, 

Jacobus Monfoort, 
Abraham Polhemius,* 
Jan Wyckoff, 
Cornelius Hoogland. 
We appoint Jan Hegeman as our treasurer. 

1742. August 22. — Domine Goetschius preached a ser- 
mon at Newtown, on the Unknown God,t which gave great 
offeace. This interrupted his ministry, and was the begin- 
ning of a long and painful series of dissensions in the 
churches of Queens County.J The quarrel raged six years 

* Polheym is the original spelling ; but it was Latinized, as many other Dutch names 
were. 

t This sermon was reprinted in Dutch, in Holland, Michigan, in 1871. It was also 
translated by Rev. John Y. De Baun and printed in the Banner of Truth in 1867. 

t Rev. Thomas Colgan, the English missionary (1744). thus writes: " The several 
churches belonging to my cure, as those of Jamaica, Newtown and Flushing, are in a 
peaceable and growing state, whilst other separate assemblies in this parish are in the 
utmost confusion. Independency, which has been triumphant in Jamaica for forty 
years past«is now, by the providence of God, in a faint and declining condition." 



FIRST EEFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 37 

ere it could be brought to a settlement before any ecclesiasti- 
cal assembly in this country. It was not till April 26, 1748, 
that the Cetus (having been approved by the Classis of 
Amsterdam) took up the affairs of Queens County, required 
Goetschius to submit to their authority, and then promoted 
his call to Hackensack. 

1746, Oct. 9. A deacons' book is made. The deacons 
agreed that no money is to be paid out without the consent 
of all. £6, 18s. 6d. now in the alms-chest. 

TITLE PAGE OF GOETSCHIUS' SERMON. 

The unknown God, or a short and plain advice how many who have 
the name of living in all their duties and piety, honor and serve a God 
whom they neither know nor love ; shown in a truthful explanation and 
application of Acts xvii ; 23 : " For as I passed by, and beheld your de- 
votions, I found an altar with this inscription : To the unknown God. 
Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." — 
Preached the 22d of Au^just 17'12 in the church of Newtown, by John 
Henry Goetschius preacher there. 

Here follows the introduction by Frelinghuysen. 

To the reader health and salvation. 

God-seeking souls to whom the promise is fulfilled. "They all shall 
know the Lord." 

Tbis church-discourse on Acts xvii :23, composed and delivered by the 
Reverend and very learned Domine John Henry Goetschius, pastor at 
Jamaica, on Long Island, we have read through with satisfaction and 
found nothing therein repugnant to the received doctrine of the Re- 
formed Nether Dutch church nor with the formularies of unity, but on 
the contrary we perceive that the explanation is well made according to 
the force of the original tongue in conformity with the aim of the Spirit, 
and the application is distinctive, pathetic and right earnest. Where- 
fore we fear not to recommend it as useful to pious christians : "Prove 
all things," following the faithful of Berea who were more noble than 
those of Thessalonica, searching daily the scriptures. We call to mind 
the earnest zeal and fidelity with the well grounded and solid learning of 
this our young brother, the more as we intimately knew his Reverence, 
having often met him in our house, so that we love him as a son, his 
Reverence being as a young Timothy and not as a brother highly es- 
teemed, since we thereby know that his ministry is blessed, and we pre- 
sent him a well proven seeker of God as a laborer who is not ashamed, 
and rightly dividing the word and giving to each his appointed part. 



38 HISTORY OF THE 

It causes us no wonder that his Eeverence meets opposition and con- 
tradiction, so that he may in some measure say: "There is a great 
door opened to me and tliere are many opposers," insomuch that his 
enemies have already sliut one church upon him (the usual way 
of those who are driven bj' the spirit of antichrist) ; but his Reverence 
can preach as well in barns or under the pure sky as in the church, as 
divers of his brethren in this land have done already before him. Also 
his Reverence is decried as an enthusiast, an old thread-bare slander 
against faithful ministers who for inward piety urge the necessity of be- 
ing born again from water and Spirit and for a pious life and conversa- 
tion in and through the Spirit. But what most strengthens the hands of 
the wicked is that a meeting of ministers with their respective Consis- 
tories is now being held deliberating on the lawfulness of his ordination 
and other charges against him wherein it is decided that these gentle- 
men cannot see that his ordination was lawful, etc. But it don't amount 
to mucii what their high Reverences can see or not see. But this is not 
the time nor the place to discuss that. Otherwise I am prepared and 
willing to prove not only the orthodoxy of his Reverence but also the 
lawfulness of his ordination, the more, as the Rev. Domine Dorsius is 
thereto competent. We therefore pass this over to his Reverence. Yet 
it seems something strange that so long as father Freaman lived, Domi- 
ne Goetschius was a lawful minister, for that reverend man had not only 
endorsed his call but also inducted Domine Goetschius in the church at 
Jamaica with these words: "I am with you always to the end of the 
world." Shortly after his death they disturbed the congregation. Mean- 
time may our partner in suffering console himself with this saying of 
God ; all instruments directed against you shall not prosper. The Lord 
shed more blessings and lustre on his Reverence's ministry and instruc- 
tion which he imparts in the languages and theology to the pious and 
gifted youth in order to prepare them as young Nazarites for the minis- 
try. 

T. J. Fkielinghuysen, 

New Jersey, Jan. 12, 1743. 

We extract from the long, able and readable sermon of 
Domine Goetschius some of the more pungent passages that 
gave offence and made the old folks cry out : "Shall this 
young stripling come here and tell us that we have so long 
served an unknown God?" 

" Worthy and beloved hearers. My only desire is that I maybe en- 
abled, through Divine aid, to unfold this notable text, so suitable to the 
circumstances of tlie present times, so plain and intelligible; and so to 
press it upon heart and conscience that many who are yet destitute of 
an experimental l^nowlodge and worsliip of God, may be convicted and 
have tlieir real state of soul laid open to their view." * * * 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 39 

"0 that the conduct of this faithful teacher, who spared no trouble, 
might shame so many easy and lazy ministers, etc., whom we may well 
compare to oxen." 

" St. Paul did not look at these idolatrous things at Athens from mo- 
tives of a sinful curiosity, merely to gratify his senses with these heathen 
fables, as many gospel ministers who are so much taken with such 
things. It was not with a design that he might wit^i such stuff embellish 
his sermons, and so only please or tickle the ears of his hearers." 

"How much more noble is our Apostle than many nowadays who 
come to the church ! He flndeth something in an Heathen church that 
is profitable for the soul, going but once and beholding, whereas now 
many go often, and that too, to a Christian church, but what do they 
take home with "them?" 

" How desirable that we had such preachers as St. Paul in these times." 

"If this faithful Apostle was to come into our New Netherland and 
pass through our city and country searching closely, would not also his 
spirit be stirred within him? For he certaml}' would find many devo- 
tions, temples, houses of worship, excellent congregations, respectable 
Consistories, etc. He would find altars enough, viz : religious persons, 
both preachers and church-members, exhibiting many specious evidences 
of zeal, knowledge, labor and duties, etc., having yet a desire to draw 
near to God (Isa. 56.2). Seek God daily after their manner, speaking of 
and hearing his word, are baptized, partakers of the Lord's Supper, ob- 
serve a particular religious and moral conduct, know how to speak 
much of the church and church affairs, prophesy, knowing languages 
and sciences, remove mountains, give over their all to the poor and their 
bodies to be burned. Yea, so much that if one did not look into their 
conduct with an enlightened eye he would be captivated, yea surprised 
at its mighty glittering appearance which in reality is only a great name 
and a shining formality. But then if the Apostle should cast his eye on 
the inscription which puts such persons and virtues in the balances of 
the Sanctuary, oh ! how soon would he inscribe TEKEii on their fore- 
heads ! and the inscription of the Athenian altar on their religious de- 
votions and exercises. How plain would it appear that with many per- 
sons their devotions and altars were not dedicated to the honor of the 
true God but rather to strange Gods, viz: to self-honor, self-love, self- 
praise and self-profit." 

"And although with some there is an appearance of seriousness, as if 
they wish to do something for the service of the true God, yet this inscrip- 
tion is on them : ' To the unknown God.' But do you ask who these are? I 
answer they are so many ignorant persons, living under a rich or abund- 
ant administration of the means of Grace, and at the same time are more 
stupid than an ox or an ass, for one knoweth his owner and the other his 
master's crib. There are so many that are easy and secure, and from 
their youth have been settled on their less, who live on securely without 
any serious concern about their immortal souls, willing to risk their 
souls on a vain, groundless hope and lifeless worship, for an eternal 



42 HISTORY OF THE 

We have uot been able to find any ecclesiastical records 
in Queens County, that shed light on the history of the 
churches from 1742 to 1743, the period of Goetschius' 
troubles. After his exclusion from the church at Newtown, 
he may have remained in Queens County, waiting the course 
of events, teaching students, and performing religious servi- 
ces as he had opportunity. A statement had been made 
affecting his moral character. To counteract this he pro- 
cured, October 16, 1744, ample testimonials of his good 
standing, and January 13, 1746, an affidavit made before 
Justice Andries Onderdonck that his accuser had (Dec. 1 
1743) retracted the charge, was signed by Abm. Lott, John 
Van Arsdalen, Johannes Kolver, Bernardus Van Zaudt, 
Jacobus Monfort and Adrian Onderdonck. 

CERTIFICATE OF GOETSCHIUS' CHARACTER. 

To all persons to whom these presents shall or inay come. 

Know ye that I have been personally acquainted with the Rev. John 
Henry Goetschius now a minister to tlie Dutch churches in Queens Co. 
some years past. Daring the whole time, so far as I have had any 
knowledge of him he has conducted himself not only as becomes a 
Christian, but also a faithful minister of tlie gospel of our Lord Jesus 
Christ; and I tlierefore, commend him to tlie great Head of the Church, 
and pray that he may be made eminently serviceable in promoting the 
interests of religion in any part of tlie Master's vineyard where he may 
be employed. 

As witness \ny hand in Dosoris in Queens County, this IGth of Oc- 
tober IT-ii. Benjamin Woolsey, V. D. M. 

And we also the minister and elders of the Presbyterian congregation 
of Jamaica do certify the same, as above written, as witness our hand. 

David Bostwick, V. D. M. 
Samuel. Smith, Justice of the Peace. 
EiiiAS Baylis, 
Samuel Smith, Ji-, 

He added to these an able defense, written by himself, 
which, with all the other documents, was sent to thn Classis 
of Amsterdam, who were satisfied with his explanations, 
but advised that he be released from Queens county, and 
sent to another field of labor. The gist of the charges against 



FIRST EEFOEMED DUTCH CHUECH. 43 

Goetscbius, were the irregularity of his ordination and that 
of his Consistories, his pulpit declarations and private con- 
versations, his sitting in judgment on the piety of other 
ministers and professors, etc. * 

It was during these troubles (in 1745 and 1747) that 
Whitefield visited and preached on Long Island, and pro- 
duced such revivals. 

1748, April 26. — Goetschius exhibited in Cetus a letter 
from the classis of Amsterdam to him, saying : 1. That he 
should be released from the congregations of Queens county 
and they from him. 2. That he should be recognized 
as a candidate in the Netherlandish church and should be 
taken in hand in his pious undertaking. Whereupon the 
Cetus recognized and received him, on his certifying a will- 
ingness to become subordinate. — In September he received 
a call from Hackensack, and Cetus gave him a written testi- 
monial as a minister. 

After Goetschius had removed from the scene of action, it 
yet required all the prudence of Cetus to reconcile the angry 
differences in the four congregations. In order to give some 
idea of their delicate and wearisome labors to bring about 
peace and unity in the churches, it will be necessary to give 
extracts from the journal of Cetus and the church book of 
Jamaica. 

1748, September 27. — A committee deputed by Jamaica, 
Success and Newtown appeared before Cetus who promise 
to assist them in every proper way, to consider the affairs of 
the congregations, and write to the dissentients at Success 
and Jamaica, recommending the choosing of a Consistory 
from among those who had once been in office, and then for 
the opponents of Goetschius to join the Cetus as the others 
had done. 

1748, September 29. — The Jamaica church book says : 
The New York Ring, f after long and fruitless labors to 

* These documents have been translated into English and are now deposited in the 
Gardner Sage Library, New Brunswick. 

t This Ring or circle was an assembly of ministers from New York, Long Island, and 
Pouglikeepsie. It was subordinate to tlie Cetus. The records, I suppose, are lost. 



44 HISTOEY OF THE 

unite the separatists with the others, resolved, for the good 
of the congregation, to choose a Consistory by means of the 
remaining members at Jamaica ; and Domine Ritzema, who 
had charge of the churches of Cetus in Queens county, was 
thereto commissioned ; and in his presence were chosen (De- 
cember 26) for elders, Tunis Covert, Elbert Hoogelaud and 
Jost Durye ; * for deacons, Jeromus Rapelye, Rem Nostrand 
and Claas Latten. A protest against the last was handed 
in by the dissentients. The others were ordained (February 
1, 1749) by Domine Ritzema in presence of the congregation. 

Dpmine Arondeus (being countenanced by Domine Boel 
one of the Collegiate ministers in New York and an oppon- 
ent of the Cetus) presided at the election of another Con- 
sistory at Jamaica and confirmed them in office the same 
day, which the Cetus declared unlawful. 

Sep. 3Q. — Cetus write to the Classis of Amsterdam that 
" Domine Boel on Aug. 16, caused a new Consistory to be 
chosen by some persons at Newtown (for they who formerly 
were dissatisfied with Goetschius still corresponded with 
Boel only) and to ordain them the same day ; particularly 
that he (Sept. 28) baptized anew 4 or 5 children who had al- 
ready been baptized by Goetschius ; and Cornelius Rapelye 
an elder said that Boel told him he did it by order of the 
Classis of Amsterdam." t 

1748, Dec. 6, — The outgoing deacons Simon Nortvvick, 
Daniel Durye and Rem Moufort accounted to the new dea- 
cons, Isaac Van Hook, Aaron Van Nostrand, Ares Remsen 
and Elbert Adriance and found in the alms chest ^6, 5s, 4d. 
Dec. 12, Jan Hegeman delivered to them the alms-chest con- 
taining a bond of X116 and money £11 7s, 3d. — Dec. 12, 

* 1775. Oct. 16.— Jacob Duryee and Albert Terhunen, Executors, offer for sale the home- 
stead of Jost Diiryea, near Old Neck, at Jamaica South, containing seventy two acres, on 
■which is a gristmill of one pair of stones, mill-house, bolting-house. Also a fine healthy 
negro boy ten years old. 

t The strife between the fWends of Van Sinderen and Arondeus in Kings county was 
still more violout tiian any act in Queens county. One Sunday in Oct. 1748, the lock 
of the cliurch door in Flatbush was bi-okou off by violence and possession of the church 
for Divine worship was thus obtained by Arondeus' party. On Sunday, Jan. 21, 1750, the 
lock of the church door at Flatlauds was broken off ; and an Elder and deacons in oppo.sitioa 
to Van Siuderen's Consistory led Domine Ai'ondeus into the pulptt there. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 45 

Rem Monfort and Daniel Durye are chosen church-masters ; 
and an accounting made by Isaac Van Hook and Derick 
Woertman. 10s, lid, was found in the alms chest. 

1749, Sep. 12. — The young man Thos. Romeyn appeared 
before Cetus and requested to be recommended to the 
Classis of Amsterdam in order that if found qualified by his 
studies under Domine Goetschius he may be admitted to 
the holy ministry. He is put off for the present. 

1749, September 14. — Peter Luyster and John Cosjou 
(Cashow) from Oyster Bay, are received as members of 
Cetus, and report that Goetschius had revisited their con- 
gregation. Cetus decided that Goetschius is not competent 
to choose and ordain a Consistory there, and that he must 
abstain from doing any ministerial services there ; but the 
dissentients may choose from their own party one elder and 
deacon to be added to the three of each already chosen by 
Goetschius, and to be ordained by a minister of the Cetus, 
so that thus the whole Consistory may become legitimate 
and the two parties united for the welfare and continuance 
of the congregation, 

Cetus had written conciliatory letters to the dissentients ; 
and on November 7, 1749, Justus Durye and Elbert 
Hoogeland, elders from Jamaica appeared in Cetus, and re- 
port that they had received a letter from Cetus, but the dis- 
sentients would not take it, saying that they had a minister 
and Consistory of their own and had nothing to do with 
Cetus. Johannes Colver, elder from Newtown, reports that 
he had given the letter to the dissentients, who read it and 
desired a copy. Andries Ouderdonck, from Success, * re- 
ports that he had given the letter to the dissentients, who 
approved of it, and hoped it would work well. 

Jacobus Monfort, Cornelius Hoogland, and Simon Losie, 
from Oyster Bay, for the one party promise to submit to 
Cetus, and bring about the same with their friends, and say 
the reason they did not- submit before was the non-paj'ment 

* Dr. John Onderdonls father of the two bishops was baptized in the Dutch church at 
Success, Dec. 8, 1764. 

12 



46 HISTORY OF THE 

of Goetschiiis' salai-y, and the calumnies against him as 
heterodox. On the other side Luyster and Cosjou promise 
t9 try to bring up the arrears of sahiry, and to give a caution 
to their friends against accusing him of heterodoxy. 

17J:9, November 9. — A letter was read from Laurens Haff, 
of Oyster Bay, not a member of the church, slandering the 
Cetus who declared that he should not be received into any 
Dutch Church until he repented and that the Presbyterian 
minister should be cautioned against receiving him, till he 
had made satisfaction to Cetus. 

1749, November 14. — Cetus resolve that Arondeus (the 
troubler of our Israel) must be stopped from preaching in 
Queens county, and exclaim : " How sad is the condition 
of the Church of God on Long Island, in all the congrega- 
tions of both counties ! and, alas ! growing worse and worse." 

1750, September 11. — Simon Losey and Cornelius Hoog- 
land from Oysterbay appeared in Cetus. 1. Inquiring 
whether they and their associates ordained by Goetschius, 
were not recognized as a lawful Consistory. 2. Signifying 
their inclination to come under the Cetus upon condition 
that they should have liberty to get the assistance of a 
preacher of the Cetus so long as the union was not estab- 
lished through the whole county. — Domine Eitzema un- 
dertook to write to the other party a caution not to slander 
as unlawful the Consistorj' chosen by Goetschius. — Elbert 
Hooglaud from Jamaica asks for and is granted the service 
of a Cetus minister. 

1750, September 14. — Cetus write to tlie CLissis of Amster- 
dam that "Queens county remains the longer divided, and 
all our efforts are fruitless." 

1751, April 19. — The new deacons Cornelias Monfort and 
Jan Jansen received the alms-chest (containing £S, L0.7|) 
from Isaac Van Hook and Ares Rerasen, outgoing deacons. 

1751, September 11.— Letters are received in Cetus from 
both parties at Oyster Bay. 

1752, April 14. — -Tost Durye, a delegate from Jamaica, 
seeks counsel and aid from Cetus against xArondeus, who 
hindei-s their union by continuing to preach there. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 47 

1752, Sept. 19. — Simon Losie and Jost Darje, a committee 
from Oj'ster Bay and Jamaica, presented a paper in Cetus 
asking counsel and aid (against Arondeus.) Cetus declare 
the Consistory of Jamaica lawful, and Oyster Bay is allowed 
to have a new one chosen and confirmed. Both congrega- 
tions are awakened to the calling of a pastor ; and Domine 
De Ronde is named as cousulent or advisory minister 
thereto. 

1752, September 21. — Cetus write to Holland that the 
long-desired peace and quiet of the congregations on Long 
Island are not yet established, since Arondeus resists the 
sentence upon him, and disturbs the congregations by ad- 
ministering the Word and the sacrament of baptism ; and 
is confirmed in his obstinacy by his followers. 

1752. — The church book says : "Ares Remsen commenced 
singing, November 21. Domine Frelinghuysen preached, and 
Thomas Romeyn- for the first time." This was Romeyn's 
trial-sermon, and proved satisfactory. 

1752, November 27. — The congregations of Oyster Bay 
and Jamaica unite in proceeding to a call, at £100 per year, 
on Thomas Romeyn, student of divinity, which he accepts, on 
condition that he go to Holland for qualification. 

1753, January 9. — The new deacons, Johannes Willemse 
and Rem Remsen, received the alms-chest from Aaron Van 
Nostrand and Elbert Adriance, and found in it a bond of 
X135 and money X20.17. 

1753, April 10. — The church book says : "Domine Van 
Sinderen preached and Thomas Romeyn gave his departing 
discourse at Jamaica." This was on the eve of his going to 
Holland for ordination. 

1753, September 1. — Ritzema made an explanation to 
Cetus concerning the election and ordination of a Consistory 
at Jamaica, which Cetus declared lawful. 

* students were not then allowed to preach in church, baru, or house, unless under 
their ijreceptors, nor use any other than the Lord's Prayer before and after sermon, nor 
pronounce the benediction. It must also be on a week day, and without singing or ring- 
lug of the bell. The cost of preparatory examination was £.8 — half paid in advance by 
the student ; the cost of the final examination (to be paid by the congregation who called 
the minister) was £20, New York currency. 



48 HISTORY OF THE 

1753, September 13. — There were now two Consistor- 
ies at Jamaica. Daniel Durje, Simon Nordwick, Abm. 
Scheuck and Aaron Yan Nostrand appear in Cetus as a 
committee from Jamaica, and insist that their Consistory, 
chosen by Arondeus* (though protested against in church by 
the elder, Abm. Lott) is lawful and that the one chosen by 
Kitzema unlawful, and therefore also the call made by them 
on Romeyn is void, and they laid upon the table a request 
for redress ; and if that is not granted, that then they pro- 
test against Eitzema, Frelinghuysen and Goetschius being 
allowed to sit on their case, on account of their partisanship. 
The Cetus refuse the last request as groundless. The com- 
mittee then agree with the Cetus to let everything rest for 
the present till further advices be had from the Classis of 
Amsterdam. 

1753, September 14. — A letter is received in Cetus from 
the. lawful Consistory of Jamaica, 

1753, September 20. — Cetus wrote to Holland that Aron- 
deus keeps the flames of discord blazing in Queens county. 

1751, April 9. — Romeyn had gone over to Holland and 
was now back again. 

1751, July 27. — Tiie Jamaica church book says : "Romeya 
is unwell. August 9. — We yet made an offer of peace to the 
dissentients, but Avere repelled." 

1754, September 18. — Two elders from Jamaica, who had 
uuited in a call on Romeyu, appear in Cetus, and request 
information on their matters. 

1754, Sept. 19. — Daniel Durye and others present papers 
against those who called Eomeyn, stating that they cannot 
conform to the scheme of Cetus for uniting the congregation 
unless Romeyn be given up, and another minister be called 
in his place. Cetus decide that things should remain as at 
present ; the persons who called Romeyn were prevented by 

* Johannes Arondeus was a minister in Kings county, but was invited by the dissftn- 
tients to visit Queens county and perform ministerial services for them. His last bap- 
tism at Jamaica is dated April 18, 1754. He had been deposed September 12, 1753. Hence- 
forth he disappears from iiubUc view. What became of him I know not. It is said he 
died iu 1751. 



FIRST EEFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 49 

lawful hindrances from being present her© and answering 
the statements of the other party ; and if Romejn (who now 
lies in a critical condition, struggling with a dangerous fever 
and more likely to die than live) should be restored (which 
may God grant), he shall be installed over those who called 
him as well at Jamaica as at Oyster Bay. Liberty is granted 
those congregations to install Do. Romeyn, if they choose, 
yet not without the action of Cetus. Daniel Durye and his 
friends, on hearing this, replied that they could not help 
matters, and could only go home. 

1754, October 5. — The widow (of Jeromus) Rapelye de- 
livered the alms-chest containing a bond for £30 and =£12 in 
money to Rem Nostrand, in presence of us Tuenis Coevert, 
Elbert Hogeland and Jost Durye. 

175i, October 9, is the last date in the regular baptism- 
book till 1766, February 16, a period of nearly 12 years. A 
few baptisms from 1753 to 1757 were recorded on loose sheets 
by one of the parties. 

1754, November 10. — The church book says Eomeyn was 
inducted at Jamaica by Domiue Yerbryck according to order 
of Classis and Cetus. His first discourse was from Psalm 
119 : 9 : " "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" 

1755, January 1. — Abm. Lott is chosen elder in place of 
Tunis Covert, whose time is out ; and for deacon, Jan Dor- 
land, in place of Jeromus Rapelye, deceased. Both were 
ordained by Romeyn, January 12. 

1755, February 12. — Cor. Hoogland and Abm. Lott, elders 
from Oyster Bay and Jamaica, as authorized, put Domine 
Romeyn in possession of the parsonage-house and land. In 
the last week of March Romeyn made pastoral visitation 
from house to house throughout all Jamaica and met with 
rough handling from the dissentients. 

1755, April 6. — The Lord's Supper was served for the first 

time by Do. Romeyn. Members received : Derrick Woert- 

man, Abm. Hendricksen and wife, Jos. Golder and wife, 

Rem Lott and wife, Jan Lammerse, Christoffel Emmons and 

13 



50 HISTORY OF THE 

wife, Evert Vaa Wicklen, Gertie Durje, Nicholas Van Ars- 
dalen and wife, Jacob Lott and wife. 

1755, July 27. — Romeyn gave notice of an election of 
church masters, and invited thereto all the heads of families 
of the whole congregation. August 2. — Two were chosen 
for Jamaica, viz: Dirk Woertrnan old church-master 
in Domine Goetschius' time, and Jos. Golder in place of 
Isaac Vander Hook who had gone over to the church of 
England. At the same time were Abm. I^ott and Elbert 
Hoogland, elders, sent after Daniel Durye to demand the 
church book and the remaining church property.- Yet he 
refused, in presence of Laurens Masten and Jan Rapelye as 
witnesses. That the things are done as above stated, we 
are witnesses : Tunis Coevert, Jost Darye, Rem Nostrand, 
Elbert Hoogland, Abm. Lott. 

1755, September 30. — On the proposal of some ministers 
to change the Cetus into a regular Classis, Domines Ritze- 
ma, DeRonde, Van Siuderen, Rabell and others withdrew 
and united in another assembly called the Conferentie or 
Conference. Hence the feud was more and more embitter- 
ed, and in 175G or 1757, we find DeRonde coming into 
Qaeeus county, and presiding at a meeting of a part of the 
congregations of Success and Oyster Buy and all of New- 
town to call another minister — while Romeyn was yet law- 
fully settled there ; which caused Romeyn to write the fol- 
lowing Protest, in behalf of the Elders of Success : 

To the worlh;i Brethren, the Ruling Consistory of the Congregation of Jesus 
Christ at New York. 

Esteemed FEiiLOW Brethren.— We the elders of the congregation of 
Jesus Christ at Success having understood that Domine DeRonde your 
Honors' minister has assisted in tlie making of a call (on a minister) for 
a portion of Jamaica, a portion of Success and for Newtown ; and since it 
is a part of the worthy Consistory's duty to take notice of the conduct of 
their minister, so we earnesUy beseech your honors to prevail on his Rever- 
ence to undo this proceeding or through some means to render it fruit- 
less, because of many forthcoming difficulties. 

Our reasons are (1.) that without the concurrence of the whole Con- 
sistory no minister can perform service in our congregation, according 
to the 15th Article of Church Order (of the Synod of Dort) ; (2.) that the 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 51 

bond of union will hereby be rent asunder and our congregation mani- 
festly scattered in violation of the 80th Article of Church Order. The 
many reasons why we cannot in this matter agree with them we shall 
show at a proper time and place. In conclusion wishing you salvation 
and blessing, subscribed by us, your Keverences' grateful and obedient 
servants. 
Success, Jan. 24, 1757. The Eldebs. 

1755, November 9, the Lord's Supper was served for the 
second time; 1756, April 18, third time ; November 21, 
fourth time. Members received : — Isaac Leffersen and 
wife. 

1756, January 2. — RemNostrand delivered the alms-chest 
containing £46, 15s, 2d, to Jan Dorland, Christoffel Emmons 
and Nicholas Van Arsdalen in presence of us, Abm. Lott, 
Abm. Hendricksen and Derrick Wortman. 

1756, June 29. — Domine Romeyn was married to Mar- 
garita Frelinghujsen. She died at Jamaica on December 
23, 1757, leaving an infant, Theodore F., only 25 days old, 
who also was cut off by an early death at Somerville, N. J'., 
in 1785, having served his congregation but 10 months. 

1757, April 10. — I acknowledge to have received from the Elders of 
the congregation of Jesus Christ at Jamaica the sum of £12, 10s, in full 
for a half year's salary. 

By me Thom. Romeyn, 

V. D. M. ibidem. 
1757. — I Jos Golder have bought 78 pounds of nails at lOd a pound, 
which comes to £3, 5s, 4d, and lent that sum to the Congregation. 

1757, May 3. — In our church gathering it was found good by the elders 
and deacons of Oysterbay and Jamaica unitedly to repair the house 
standing in Jamaica where Cors. Smith now dwells, for Domine Komeyn. 
So we the elders and deacons of Jamaica and Oyster Bay promise as we 
have subscribed each to pay equally one half of the cost. 

COKNELIS HOOGLANP, HaNS BeKGEN, 

Nyoklaes Van AksdaIiEn, Deekyck Woebtman, 

Jan Lammekse, Joseph Goldeb, 

Joseph Hegeman, Joost Dueye, 

Daniel Dueyib, (One name illegible,) 

Gakeet Nooesteant, Petee Luistee. 

1757, May 23. — The Consistory of Jamaica, by Domine 
Romeyn, paid to the Consistory of Oyster Bay the full sum 
that they asked of as (for repairs of parsonage). 



52 HISTORY OF THE 

1757, May 23.— Jau Dorland and Christoffel Emmons de- 
livered the alms-chest containing £43, 13s, 6d, to Jau Lam- 
merse and Nicholas Van Arsdalen in presence of us, Jost 
Durye and Jos. Golder. 

1757, June 5. — The Lord's Supper was served for the 5th 
time. 

1757, June 7. Ares Kemse and Elbert Hogelant agreed with Peter 

Luyster and Daniel Voox*hees of Oyster Bay to make up the Domine's 

house for £30, in ray presence, as witness. 

JoasT Durye.* 

1757, October 26. — The present Deacons Cors. Monfort, Johannes Wil- 
lemse and Rem Eemsen overlooked the alms-chest and found in it a 
bond and note for £100 6s, and money £13, 7s. April 2.4, 1767 paid out 
£55, 6s. 

1758, January 15. — Domine Komeyn gave notice from the 
pulpit of an election of Church Masters. — January 20. — Jan 
Lammerse and Jacob Lott were chosen by the congregation 
of Jamaica, It was resolved bj Congregation and Consis- 
tory that the two oldest deacons should from ^ear to year be 
Church-masters. On these conditions we Derick Wortman 
and Jos. Golder give over the Church-book this 20th of 
January, 1758. 

1758, January 23. — Nicholas Van Arsdalen delivered the 
alms-chest containing £40, 4s, 3d, to Jan Lammerse, Jacob 
Lott and Isaac Leffersen in presence of us, Jost Durye, Der- 
rick Wortman and Jos, Golder. 

1758, -March 26.— The Lord's Supper for the 6th time ; 
members received : — Beruardus Ryder t and wife, Gerret 
Nostrand and wife. 

1758', June 5. — Kec'd of Mr. John Lamberson the sum of eleven shillings 
and tliree pence for the rates of the Dutch parsonage — I say received 
by me. £0, 11.3 Nicholas Smith, Collector. 

1758, October 22, the Lord's Supper the 7th time ; 1759, 

* 1758. — We, Ares Kemseii and Elbert Hogelandt, the builders have received £8 from 
Nicholas Van Arsdalen.— 1760, JaJiiiary 30. received from the congregation of Jamaica £6, 
8s, 9d, in full. Elbekt Hogelandt: 

t 1756. — Id a gust of wind, Sunday, May IR, a negro the property of Beruardus Ryder 
■was in a boat fishing in Flushing Bay and being, overset was drownad. 



FIRST EEFOEMED DUTCH CHUKCH. 53 

June 17, 8th time ; December 16, 9th time ; 1760, June 1, 
10th time. 

1758, December 8. — Jan Lammerse bj consent delivered 
the church-book and alms-chest containing X41.7 to Jacob 
Lott, Gerret Van Nostrand and Isaac Lefferse, churcli- 
masters, in presence of Joost Durye and Elbert Hogelandt. 

1760, January 30. — By consent of Isaac Lefierse and 
Jacob Lott I deliver this church-book to Gerret Van Nos- 
trand and Jan Lammerse, church-masters. 

1760, January 30. — Jacob Lott delivered the alms-chest 
containing £35.12 to Rem Lott, Jan Lammerse and Gerret 
Van Nostrand, in presence of us, Bernardus Ryder, Jan 
Dorland, Ares Remsen and Elbert Hogelandt. 

1760, November 30. — Says the Jamaica church book : 
"Domiue Romeyn took his departure from us. He preached 
from these words (Eph. 6:24): 'Grace be with all them that 
love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.' " 

1762, February 25. — The journal of Conferentie says : 
Queens county is excited about a minister ; with what 
result time will show. 

1763, April 28.— The church paid Rev. Abm. Keteltas* a 
Presbyterian minister without a charge, living in Jamaica, 
(who could preach in Dutch, French or English) X16 5s. as 
half year's salary for his services. 

1764, February 1. — John Lamberson and Rem Lott paid 
Benj. Waldron the half of what he demanded of us, 14s, 9d. 

1764, March 1. — The Consistory of the four united con- 
gregations met at the house of Rem Remsen at the "Fly" or 
meadow to divide the contents of the alms-chest, and have 

found to distribute : 

£. s. d. 

For Success, from Kem Remsen 12 18 9 

" Rem Lett 12 10 

Interest from Rem Remsen 16 9 

£26 5 6 

* 1799, March 18.— On Thursday last the dwelling-house of the late Rov. Abm. Keteltas, 
at Jamaica, took fire by accident and was entirely consumed. The house was old and 
out of repair and of no great value, but the loss is principally felt in discommoding a 
large family at a season of the year not easy to procure a habitation. 

14 



54 HISTORY OF THE 

1764, May 17. — Kem Lott, deacon of Jamaica, paid £12.10 
to Michael Demott and Harman Hendrickson, deacons of 
Success church. 

1764, July 2. — Jeromus Remsen and Samuel Waldron 
received of Eem Lott £12.10 for the Dutch congregation of 
Newtown. 

1765, May 9. — The alms-chest was delivered to Jan Lam- 
merse in presence of Elbert Hogeland and Bernardus Ryder*. 

"1765, October 22. — The minister, Boelen, who has been 
called to Queens county, still fails to appear, much to our 
sorrow ; and we, with the congregations who expected him, 
are much perplexed, not knowing how to quiet them." — 
{Journal of Con/erentie.) 

1766. — The church book says : Domine Vander Boelen, 
from Holland, arrived in port February 2d ; on the 4th he 
came to Jamaica, and on the 16th he gave his introductory 
discourse from Ps. 34: 12. He was inducted by Van Sin- 
deren from Heb. 13: 7 : "Remember them which have the 
rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God." 
Seven children were baptized. 

1766, June 1. — Boelen had his first communion. His text 
was from Is. 66:2. In the afternoon he gave the usual 
Thanksgiving sermon after the Holy Supper, from Ps. 5: 12 : 
"For thou. Lord, wilt bless the righteous." 

1766, June 23. —Elbert Hogeland and Stephanus Lott are 
deacons. 

1767, May 17. — Domine Boelen had his second com- 
munion, Martin Schenck t and wife from Fishkill with an 
attestation communed with us for the first time. 1768, 
June 19. — Boelen's third communion. 

1767. — Collections received toward building or repairing 

* 1760, April 14.— Kan away from Bernardus Ryder, Flushing a negro man Ceesar, aged 
twenty-five, this country born, not a right black, has a little of the yellowish cast, a 
pretty lusty fellow, talks good English, if frightened stutters very much, has lost one of 
his front teeth ; had on a light-colored Devonshire kersey coat, a soldier's red jacket, 
breeches and hat, and a pair of old shoes. 408. reward if taken on the Island ; or £3 if 
taken off the Island. — Postboy. 

t 1769 Ajiril 10.— Martin Schenck offers for sale his farm of one hundred and fifty acre.?, 
two miles from Jamaica, on the eastern road to Flushing. 




A PULPIT AND SOUNDING BOARD 
OF THE OLDEN TIME. 




THE ALMS-CHEST, 

Made of cherrj- wood and strapped with iron, supposed 

to be at least 167 years old, and still in use. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 55 

the church and lent to Martin Scheuck, March 21, 8s, 7d. 
April 19, 12s, lOd. May 13, 3s, 7d. May 17, XI, Is, lOd. 

1767, June 18.— Eem Kemsen, outgoing deacon, rendered 
an account of his expenditures, delivered up the alms-chest 
with X45, 10s, 7d, in it, and is thanked for his faithful service. 

1767, August 10 — Jan Lammerse in presence of the 
greater part of Consistory delivered up to Isaac Lefferse 
deacon, the alms-chest containing X38, 13s, 3d, consisting of 
a bond of X18, bills, silver and coppers. We the under- 
written bear witness to it with our signatures : Hermanns 
L. Boelen, Minister, Joost Durye, Nycklaes Van Arsdalen, 
Marten Schenck, Isaac Lefferse, Jacob Lott. 

1767, October 7. — The Conferentie write to the Classis of 
Amsterdam : " Domiue Boelen* still remains apart from us 
with his congregations. He has many of his people who 
would cordially unite with us, and if the minister was of one 
mind with them the thing could be easily brought about. 
We desire, therefore, that your body would take the trouble 
to stir up the minister with his congregations to this end t ." 

1768, June 19. — Communion third time. Paid for bread 
and wine 9s, 2d. 

1768, October 23. — Domine Boelen had the communion at 
Newtown, Douwej and Abm. Ditmars with their wives 
communicated for the first time. 



* The close of Boelen's pastorate in 1772, as well as his whole life before and after, is 
veiled in obsenrity. We kno\T not why he left or whither he went. He officiated occa- 
sionally at Newtown from 1777 to 1780. Riker says he resided awhile at Flatlands, and 
finally returned with his daughter to Holland. 

He was a small man, of a powerful voice, but his langiiage was not simple enough to 
be easily understood by common jieoijle. 

t The dissensions of the Church having continued for nearly 30 years were brought to 
a happy close in October, 1771, when on the conciliatory invitation of the Consistory of 
the Collegiate Church in New York, the Cetus and Conferentie parties met in the Garden 
street Church and agreed on a plan for the reunion of brethren at variance ; which hav- 
ing been approved by the Classis of Amsterdam the Articles were (June 18, 1772) accept- 
ed and signed by Nycholaes Van Arsdalen, Cornelius Hoogland, Jacob and Joris Rapelye, 
Elders at Jamaica, Oysterbay, Newtown and Success ; Queens County, then being with- 
out a minister. 

t 1760, September 18. — Run away from Dow Ditm.ars Sd, Jamaica a negro fellow, Tony, 
of a yellowish complexion, spealis Dutch and English, had on a brown camblet coat 
and waistcoat plush breeches and tiowsers; 20s, reward. N. B. — All ijersons are fore- 
w.arnod not to couce.al or carry away said nogi'o. 



56 HISTORY OF THE 

TKEASURER'S ACCOUNT. 

£. s. d. 

1739, Oct. 3. — Paid Isaac Bloom for an iron window hinge for 

the church 6 

1740, Jan. 12. — Paid for sweeping the church 1 3 

1741, June, 1. — " Isaac Bloom foran iron bolt on the church 

door G 

Sweepingthe church 1 3 

Half a bushel of sand for church floor 4 

To Wm. Stead, carpenter * 4 

' ' Jas. Sebrant 9 

" John Carman 6 

" Widow Stillwell 1 

" the glazier or glass-maker ' 5 

1746, Dec. G.— For paper 1 6 

1747, — Paid to two poor women 10 

1750, May 6. — Gave a poor woman 1 3 

1751, Apr. 19.— Gave to the elders 4 G G 

" 30. — Gave to two high dutehers for a church . 18 

1752, Oct. 14.— Gave the Elders 4 10 

1753, Feb. 1].— Gave to the high-dutcher 7 4 

1755, — Paid Theodore Frelinghuysen for Holland 2 

1 758, July 1. — Gave a poor man and woman 3 6 

1766, Dec. 9. — Gave Lena Stine cash for bread 2s, a shift 9s, 
4| yards durant 14s, 3d, a yard of cheek 2s, 
lOd, making up all her goods 5s. . . , 1 13 1 

Sometimes a person made over his property to another 
party on condition of his being supported in his old age. 
We don't know how it was in the case of Peter Bennewe ; 
but give the treasurer's expenditures in his behalf, 

£. s. d. 

1747, Jan. — Paid for a pair of leather breeches 10 

— More, for making a coat, in all 2 7 2 

1748, Dec. 26.- For a pair of stockings 5 9 

1749, Feb. 1 —Pair of leather breeches for P. B., a poor man . 10 

" Mar. 30.— A shirt 11 3 

" June 2. — Paid to Samuel Lawrence on acct. of his board 2 10 

" July 11. — Lent him 1 

1750, Mar. 17.— Gave him 2 

1750-1, January 5. — Received by a vendue of the estate of Peter Bena- 

way deceased £7, 2s, 4d, for the Dutch Church. I paid out expenses £G, 
9s, 5d. There remains in my hands 128, lid, which I have put in our 
church stock. Jeronemus Rapelye. 

* William Stead indicted (May 18, 1773) for au assault ou Sarah Eapolye, on oflVring 
proof in mitigation is fined 10s. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



57 



It was found May 23, 1757 by receipts that £71, 12s, 3d, was at differ- 
ent times paid out of tiio Dutcli Church for Binnewe's suppoi't. 

COLLECTIONS IN CHURCH. 



17G7 
April 19, Paas Sunday. . . 

" 20, " Monday... 

May 13, Wednesday 

May 17 1 

" " paid for bread and 

wine 

Aug. 30 

Sept. 27 

Oct. 25 

Nov. 22 

Dec. 20 

1768 

Feb. 7 

Mar. 6 

Paas Sunday 

" Monday 

May 1, Sunday 

Pinkster Sunday and Mon- 
day 

June 15, Wednesday, 

preadiing 

June 19, Sunday 1 

July 17. Sunday 

Aug. 14, " 

Sep. 11, " 

Oct. 9, " 

Dec. 4, 

1769 
Jan. 1, New Year's Day. . 



s. d. 


8 7 


12 10 


3 7 


1 10 


13 2 


10 


11 


6 6 


1 


3 3 


8 6 


4 2 


6 10 


2 


9 


9 11 


2 11 


8 6 


10 9i 


11 8 


9 91 


9 10 


3 3 


5 4 



£. s. d. 



Feb. 26 1 3 

Paas Sunday and Monday 15 4 

April 19, Wednesday 2 

April 23 1 1 

Took out for bread & wine 8 8 

May 14, Pinkster Sunday. 10 

May 15, " Monday 4 4 

July 9 10 1 

Aug. 6 11 i 

1770 

July 29 8 11 

Aug. 26 8 6 

Sep. 23 12 7 

Oct. 21 6 

Nov. 18 6 8 

Dec. 16 6 9 

1771 

Jan. 1 Tuesday 3 11 

Jan. 27 3 5 

Feb. 24 3 

Mar. 4, Monday 7 

April 21 9 

May 12 9 

June 5, Wednesday 2 

June 9 14 

Took out for bread &wine 13 

July 7 • 3 

Aug. 4 11 



1769, April 29. — In presence of the greater part of Con- 
sistory who met at the house of Isaac Lefferse, there was 
found in the alms-chest X44, 6s, 9d. 

1769, May 3. — The Consistory met and found it good to 
take the money in the chest for up-building (or repairing) 
th6 church ; and to begin the chest anew. 

1769, May 14. — Barnardus Eyder, Elbert Hogeland, 
Stephen Lott and Douwe Ditmars are deacons. 
15 



58 HISTORY OF THE 

1769, May 29.— Paid X16, 10s, cost of making np or re- 
pairing the Domine's dwelling. 

1769, August 12. — Jacob Lott and Douwe Ditmars made 
a reckoning and found in the alms-chest XI, 15s, 5d. 

1770, June 7. — Gerret Nostrand and Stephen Lott out- 
going deacons left in the alms-chest ifj, 6s, lOd. 

1770. — Abm Ditmars paid for bread and wine 13s, 2d, 
The preaching was once a month this year. 

1770, April 14.— £11, 7s, was paid by Albert Hoogland to 
Bernardus Ryder for sashes for the church. Before this, prob- 
ably, the upper half of the windows had glass, the lower 
part had shutters which were opened in warm weather to 
admit fresh air. 

1771, August 12. — Douwe and Abm. Ditmars left in the 
alms-chest XI 2, Is, 9d. 

1772, June 13. — " Paid out for Domine Boeleu's salary 
X7, Ms." This year he left. 

1773, December 13. — A call it is said was made on Rynier 
Van Nest, who declined. 

1773, September 21. — Particular Synod met in New York ; 
Jacob Rapelye and Abraham Hoogland present from Queens 
County. On the proposal of Jacob Rapelye in behalf of the 
vacant congregation of Queens County; the preachers of this 
Synod decide to preach there by tui-ns in order of age, every 
four weeks, so long as they are shepherdless. — -1771, Septem- 
ber 20. — Present Peter Onderdouck and Jacob Rapelye from 
Queens County. The request of Queens County was re- 
newed and agreed to in the same way as last year. 

1774, October 4-7.— Rynier V. Nest, Jr., M. C.,* appeared 
and having given a specimen of his sermonizing, upon Zach. 
13:7 withdrew ; and Sol. Froeligh, student of Theology, hav- 
ing been invited in and afforded an opportunity of showing 
his faculty for preaching by a discourse upon 1st John 5: 7, 
likewise withdrew. Having given satisfaction to the Rever- 
end Synod, they were admitted to examination, Mr. V. 
Nest to the final and Mr Froeligh to the preparatory ; and 

* M. C, means candidate for the ministry. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 59 

• 

having been afterwards carefully examined by the Deputati, 
both iu the Greek and Hebrew languages, and on the vari- 
ous points of Sacred Theology, they so far afforded satis- 
faction to the Reverend Synod that they did not in the 
least hesitate to admit Mr. Van Nest to the proclamation of 
the Holy Gospel and tlie administration of the Holy Sacra- 
ments, and to receive Mr. Froeligh among the Licentiates. 
The Moderators, were directed to furnish them with testi- 
monials. 

SOLOMON FROELIGH CALLED. 

1775, April 25.— Sol. Froeligh, M. C, presented himself to 
Synod, exhibiting a call made upon him by the four united 
congregations of Jamaica, Newtown, Success and Oyster 
Bay, and requesting to be admitted to the final examination. 
After the approval of the call the time for the examination 
was fixed at day after to-morrow at 10 o'clock iu the fore- 
noon. — He was accordingly admitted to his examination, 
and after having afforded a specimen of his gift of preaching, 
from Proverbs xv: 3, he was subsequently carefully examined 
both in the Hebrew^ upon Psalm xxiii, and in Greek upon 
Philippians iii, and especially upon the prominent points of 
Sacred Theology, and afforded such satisfaction that with- 
out the slightest hesitation he Avas admitted to the procla- 
mation of the Holy Gospel and the administration of 
the Sacraments ; wherefore the Reverend Moderators 
were directed to furnish him with a suitable testimonial. 
The Reverend President Lambertus De Ronde, with the 
ministers in Kings County was appointed to solemnly install 
Mr. Froeligh with laying on of hands on the second Tuesday 
of June next. 

At the session of Synod, September 19, 1775, present 
Solomon Froeligh and Jacob Rapelye from Jamaica. Domine 
De Ronde reported to the Reverend Synod that according 
to the order and appointment of the last held General As- 
sembly extraordinary he was present at the installation of 
Domine Solomon Froeligh, taking his text from 1 Thess. v: 
12, 13, after which by the laying on of hands of the Ordainer 



60 HISTORY OF THE 

• 

and other Reverend brethren present, the candidate was 
duly invested who afterwards in the afternoon gave his in- 
troductory sermon from Isaiah Ixii : 1 ; whereon may the 
Lord grant his blessing.* 

Froeligh says that after preaching the Gospel to the four 
congregations of Queens County with little visible success 
for 15 months and amid much conflict of mind arising from 
their disajffection to our Independence, I fled to Jersey and 
narrowly escaped being taken prisoner by the British army. 
In this flight I lost all my cattle, furniture, books and cloth- 
ing, in which consisted my little all of earthly things. I can 
never reflect without emotions of gratitude on the goodness 
of God in favoring my escape. t 

Froeligh wore the cocked hat, Geneva cloak and bands for 
a while, but at length discarded them. — He had bought a 
silver watch of Major Lefferts just before the British landed 
on Long Island and was prevented from paying for it by 
his sudden flight and the continuance of the war till the 
peace of 1783 when he revisited the Islaud and made pay- 
ment. There is a strange discrepancy in this story as vari- 
iously told by Froeligh's friends and enemies. Tunis Hoog- 
land of East Woods, Oyster Bay, told the Rev. William P. 
Kuypers that Froeligh bought the watch of Abm SchenckJ of 
Great Neck before the war. After the war he returned and 
preached at Success when Schenck asked him for the money. 

* After service De Ronde enquired of Eev. Abm. Keteltas : "Who is this Froeligh? 
What is the occupation of his father?" Keteltas replied: "His father lives in the 
North and is a farmer." De Ronde exclaimed: "Ah, these farmer ministers have no 
dignity." Keteltas replied: "I am surprised at you. This morning you told us in 
your sermon that it was immaterial whether a minister was son of a farmer (boor) or of 
a burgomaster." " I said so indeed iu the pulpit," replied De Ronde, '• I must say some- 
thing for the ears of the peox^le, but I think otherwise."— Pemaresrs Life of Froeligh. 

t 1780, October 3.— Froeligh having accepted a call to New Millstone, Synod appointed a 
committee to approve the same ; and thereupon in this very unusual case, to dismiss 
him from his former congregations on Long Island, from which having been driven 
by the enemy in these disturbed times he can obtain no regular ecclesiastical discharge; 
Synod being fully satisfied of his blameless, profitable and edifying conversation in those 
congregations. 

} 1797, June 14.— $20 Reward.— Ran away from Abraham Schenck, Great Neck, a negro 
man, Jake, much addicted to liquor, very impertinent when intoxicated, wore a high- 
crowned hat, hair shortish and tied behind. He is something of a fiddler, very active, 
and values himself much on jumping over fences. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 61 

Froeligli said he hadn't any but oifered back the watch. 
Mrs. Schenck said : Let him keep the watch. He will pay 
for it sometime or other. Schenck said he could live with- 
out the watch, etc., etc. At a meeting of Classis at Hacken- 
sack, 1796, in an angry moment Kuypers charged Froeligh 
with stealing this watch. Froeligh sued him for slander and 
many witnesses were summoned, Major Lefferts* among 
others. The trial lasted three days. 

1775, May 17th, was observed as a day of Fasting and 
Prayer by the congregations of the Reformed Protestant 
Dutch Churches, in this and the Province of New Jersey. — 
N. Y. Journal, on account of the Revolution. 

1776, June 1. — Douwe Ditmars and Isaac Lefferts reck- 
oned and found in the alms-chest £22, 17s, 7d. 

1776, August 27, was a day of Fasting, Humiliation and 
prayer appointed by the Continental Congress. 

REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS. 

In 1776, the British took possession of Long Island. Froe- 
ligh had been an ardent Whig, and in his public ministra- 
tions had often prayed the Almighty to strike the fleets of 
our enemies with his bolts, and sink their soldiers in the sea, 
so that they might not set hostile foot on our shores. Be- 
fore the enemy could lay liands on him he had fled to New- 
town, and lay concealed one night in the house of a Mr. 
Rapelye, at Hellgate, who set him over to the main.t The 
parsonage was occupied by the Rev. Mr. Bowden. The 
church was taken possession of by the soldiers, and used as a 
store-house for provisions. The pulpit was left, but the seats 
and floor were ripped up, and taken out, and used for build- 
ing huts and barracks for the soldiers who lay at Jamaica 

* 1819, May 12.— Burglary.— The house of Mr. Isaac Lefferts near Jamaica, Long Island. 
was broken open on the night of the 8tli inst., and robbed of a small chest, containing 
fifteen hundred dollars in bank bills, three hundred and fifty dollars In silver, twenty 
eagles, a gold watch, chain, key and seals, and a number of valuable papers. Two hun- 
dred dollars reward is offered for the detection of the robber and the recovery of the 
property. George Ellis Eyerson had broken open the late Major Lefferts' house. 

t He did not floe as precipitately as is generally supposed, for he officiated at Success. 
October 13, 1770, six or seven weeks after the British had possession of the Island. 



G2 HISTORY OF THE 

almost every Winter. Here, every Sunday, wagons repaired 
to draw the weekly allowance of rum, pork, flour and peas. 
The deacons' chest, with its money, was kept out of their 
hands, and, it is said, buried by Isaiah Doxey, in a sheep 
pen, and covered with litter. The people were permitted to 
worship in the Episcopal church occasionally. Doraines 
Rubell* and Schoonmaker, from Kings County visited the 
congregations of Queens county at distant intervals, marry- 
ing, christening and performing other religious services, but 
there is no record preserved of any church services at Ja- 
maica during the Revolution ; but in Newtown, Success and 
Oyster Bay some baptisms are recorded, those churches 
having been only now and then occupied by soldiers. 

When a British officer sent a farmer on an errand he usu- 
ally gave him a pass in order to prevent his being stopped 
by some other official, as the following permit shows : 

J Jamaica, 29 Aug.. 1776. 

Permit Isaac Bonnet to pass and repass 
without molestation. 

Will. Ekskine, Brig. Gen. 

Among the hardships of the British occupation was that 
of the farmers having their teams taken at any time to cart 
provisions, baggage and munitions of war for army use, as 
the following order shows : 

Flushing, 2fith Sept. 1776. 
To Luke Bergen : 

Press two wagons for the Service of the 
Light Dragoons. 

S. BiECH, Lt. Col. 

Judge Thomas Jones in his History of- the Revolution, 
says : 

" I have seen a conductor of wagons, upon a foraging 
party, turn fifty horses into a loyal farmer's orchard, (one 



* When Domine Rubell preached he evinced his loyalty by the fervency of his prayers 
for " King George in, Queen Charlotte, the Princes and Pi'incesses of the Royal family 
and the upper and lower houses of Parliament." If the minister omitted this i^rayer he 
could hardly descend from the pulpit before receiving a reprimand from some one of his 
hearers. 

When the services of a minister could not be procui-ed the Dtitch went to gebedt, a re- 
ligious meeting at private houses where they sang, road prayers and a sermon. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 63 

Isaac Lefferts, near Jamaica), where his apples were gathered 
and put into heaps ready for making cider, and though the 
farmer earnestly begged the conductor to put them into a 
field where the pasture was better, the request was insulting- 
ly refused, and the apples — which turned into cider, would 
have produced £200— were totally destroyed. Mr. Lef- 
ferts, upon remonstrating with the conductor against so 
extraordinary a conduct, was called a ' damned old rebel.' 
He had, it is true, been a Committee-man, but upon General 
Howe's first proclamation, in November, 1776, he came in, 
submitted, and renewed his oath of allegiance. What confi- 
dence could be put in the proclamations of Generals, when 
they were so flagrantly, unjustly and openly violated? And 
yet the proclamation, in consequence of which the farmers 
surrendered, pledged the faith and honor of the Crown that 
every person availing himself of it should be protected by 
His Majesty in his life, liberty and property." 

The sufferings of the people daring the armed occupation 
of our Island by the British were beyond description. Be- 
sides having their fat creatures and farm produce taken from 
them for army use, (and if paid for, it was at a price fixed 
by their conquerors), their wagons and teams were often 
impressed so that they had not animals sufficient to do their 
plowing and carting. Hence they raised scant crops and 
were straitened in provisions. They were also forced to 
share their scanty fare with soldiers billeted on them by 
British authority, and with no certainty of payment. Col. 
Graydon thus describes his living in a well-to-do farmer's 
family : 

"The houses and beds of the Dutch we found clean, but 
their living extremely poor. A sorry wash made up of a 
sprinkling of bohea- and the darkest sugar, with slack- 
baked bread and a little butter constituted our breakfast. 
At our first coming, a small piece of pickled beef was occa- 

* Bohea was the kind of tea most in use. But tea was so seldom drank even in 
well-to-do families that a physician ordered tea to be purchased and drank as a cordial 
for a sick woman. In 1814, when tea was high-priced, some farmers substituted burnt 
crusts of bread instead of the China herb. 



64 HISTORY OF THE 

sionally boiled for dinner, but to the beef which was soon 
consumed, succeeded clippers or clams, and our unvaried 
supper was supon or mush, sometimes with skimmed milk 
but more generally with butter-milk blended with molasses, 
which was kept for weeks in a churn. I found it, however, 
after a little use, very eatable, and supper soon became mj 
best meal. A black boy too was generally in the room, who 
walked about or took post in the chimney corner with his 
hat on, and occasionally joined in the conversation." 

" The Dutch were quiet and inoffensive. Their religious, 
like their other habits, were unostentatious and plain ; and 
a silent grace before meat prevailed at table. When we 
were all seated our host clapped his hands together, threw 
his head on one side, closed his eyes, and remained mute 
and motionless for about a minute." 

"The principal person in a Dutch village appears to be the 
Domine or minister ; and Flatbush (1777) revered her 
Domine Rubell, a rotund, jolly- looking man, a follower of 
Luther and a Tory. At Flatlands there was also a Domine 
Van Sinderen, a disciple of C ilvin and a Whig. He was in 
person as well as principles a perfect contrast to Mr. Rubell, 
being a lean and shrivelled little man, with silver flowing locks 
under his triangular sharp pointed hat, which streamed like 
a meteor to the troubled air, as he whisked along with great 
velocity in his chair through Flatbush. — Grat/dons Memoirs. 

The negroes became insubordinate and often left their 
masters. Here follow two advertisements : 

1780, Juno 4. — Ran away from .John Amberniin a negro man, Will, 
thick lips and had on corduroy breeches. Two guineas reward for his re- 
covery. 

1782, June 12. — SIO Reward. — Ran away from Douwe Ditmars, a negro 
boy, Frank, took'a pale blun cloth coat aud jacket and a now castor hat. 
It is imagined he intends going on board some privateer. 

1777, November '24. — Douwe Ditmars and J(>hn Lamber- 
son were two of a Committee appointed by town meeting to 
provide fire wood and other necessary articles for the use of 
the hospital and guard house in Jamaica. All wlio have 



. FTEST EEFOEilED DUTCH CHURCH. 65 

soldiers billeted^ on tbem will be excused from contributing. 

As there were no Banks of deposit, the fiirmers hid their 
money, but were often tortured till they revealed the hidiog 
place. We give two instaoces out of many : 

Isaac Henirickson was tied to a bed-post and robbdd. 

John Williamson was robbed of £300 which was hidden 
under the hearth stone. 

In the Fall of 1780 Derick Amberman, a miller at the lower 
end of Foster's Meadow, demanded pay for flour of a British 
officer, Crowe, quartered at John Montanye's. This so 
angered Crowe that he beat the miller on the head with a 
loaded whip, and Major Stockton ran him through with a 
sword. Neither was punished, though a court martial was 
held. 

As a captain of Militia Albert Hoogland had to distrain 
the property of Friends who refused to do any military ser- 
vice or to pay for guarding the Fort at Whitestone, taking 
from one and another, a watch, a looking glass, linen goods, 
wheat, turkeys, boots, a geography, pewter plates, tongs, 
andirons, sauce pan, silver tea-spoons, etc. 

During the latter part of the war when things became 
more settled, the farmers could attend to agriculture and 
found a ready market for their produce which was greatly 
needed by the officers and soldiers of the army and paid for 
in British gold and silver. The officers, especially, were 
fond of good living and would gladly pay almost any price 
for setting out a luxurious table. 

Of course farmers were liable to have their hen-roosts 
robbed at night, and subject to all kinds of theft, when 
soldiers were in their neighborhood. 

1777, September 1. — The inhabitants were expected to 
show their fidelity by contributing in every way to the sup- 
port of the British arms, otherwise their loyalty might be 

* When The British army was uot ia active service the m^n wire distributed in such 
farmers' houses as had two fire places, soldiers lu the kitchen of one house and officers in 
the best room of another. A Serjeant previously visited each house and chalked on the 
door the number to be taken in. U iless a big woodpile was at the door the soldiers would 
cut up the fences for fusl. An offljsr always had a guard picing before his quarters. 

17 



66 



HISTORY OF THE 



suspected. The following Dutch names appear in a list of 
contributors for raising a new regiment to be called " Fan- 
ning's Corps," at the request of Governor Trjon : 



£. s. 

Ambarman, Nicholas 8 

'^ Derick 16 

" Isaac 8 

Paul 2 

John 8 

Bennet, John 1 4 

" Cornelius 16 

" Isaac 8 

Bergen, Derick g 

Tunis 16 

John 8 

" Jacob 1 8 

" Abraham 10 

" Johannes 1 4 

Luke 16 

Boerum, Aury 10 

Covert, Tunis. 16 

Ditmars, Garret 8 

" John 12 

" Isaac 1 16 

" Abraham. 1 4 

Dow 3 4 

" Dow, Jr 4 

" Mary, wid. of Dow — — 

Duryea, John, Jr 2 8 

" RuleE 16 

Dorland, Garret.. 16 

Eldert, Samuel 16 

" Hendriek 1 4 

" Luke 1 17^ 

Emmons, Hendriek 1 12 

Frederick, Jonas. 12 

Golder, "Wm 16 

" Joseph 8 

Hendrickson, Isaac 8 

" Bernardus 16 

Wm 16 

Hendriek ... 16 

" Abraham 10 

Johnson, Martin 8 

Lamberson, Bernardus. .... 8 

" John 1 4 



£. s. 

Lamberson, Tunis 8 

Waters 8 

" Nicholas 1 4 

" Simon 8 

Lefferts, Isaac. 1 12 

Agnes, wife of I. . 8 

Losee, John 8 

" Cornelius 8 

Lott, Stephen 1 

" JohnH 2 

" Abraham 8 

Nostrand, John 1 

Garret 16 

Eemsen, Aury 1 4 

" Jacob 16 

" John 1 »4 

" Rem 16 

Daniel 16 

Ryder, Urias 8 

" Bernardus 8 

Christopher 8 

Snedeker, Garret . . 8 

" Johannes 1 17;^ 

" Abraham 8 

" Rem 16 

John 10 

Van Brunt, John 8 

Jost 2 

Van Dam, Nicholas 8 

Van Liew, John (pond) 16 

John, Sr 16 

Van Nostrand, Peter 8 

Van Arsdale, Isaac 8 

" Abraham ... 8 

Voorhies, John 8 

Van Wicklen, Johannes. ... 16 

Garret 8 

Evert. 16 

Williamson, Mary, widow 

of John 8 

Williamson, John 2 13^ 

Wyekoff, Jacob 1 12 




RESIDENCE AT FLATBUSH OF REV. BERNARDUS FREEMAN. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 67 

BIOGEAPHY OF DUTCH MINISTERS. 

Bernardus Freeman* was born in Gilhuis, Holland. He 
was called to Schenectady (1700) at a cost of near upon XSO. 
He also learned the Mohawk language and instructed and 
converted the Indians.f He was inducted in the church of 
New Utrecht, November, 1705, by Domine Dubois. He 
married an heiress Margretia Van Schaick, 1705, and died 
at Flatbush, August, 1743, aged 83, leaving a daughter Anna 
Margaretta, who married her cousin David Clarkson, son of 
the Secretary of the Province. 

Freeman was the means of settling Frelinghuysen at the 
Raritans where the people (in the pastor's view) were become 
too lax in their notions of christian duty and indulged in 
horse racing and kindred amusements. When the domine 
tightened the reins and refused the communion to the more 
notorious offenders, his Consistory with the aid of the pen 
of Henricus Boel put forth a pamphlet entitled their " com- 
plaint," Klagte. Freeman having espoused the cause of Fre- 
linghuysen, had drawn ofi the fire upon himself and at length 
(1726) was forced to issue his " defence," Verdeediging. 
Van Santford also published a tract on these difficulties en- 
titled Samenspraak, "a Talking-together or Conference." 
The misunderstanding between the Consistory and Freeman 
came up for adjudication before a church court at Jamaica 
July 25, 1725.1 

Vincentius Antonides was born 1670 at Bergen, in the 

* The name is variously spelled Bernhardus, Barent, Freerman, Vreeman. 

t He was apijointed to preach to the Indians and instruct them in the Protestant faith 
in order to eounteract the instruction of the Prench Jesuits from Canada. 

t Freeman had printed (1721) at Amsterdam a volume of thirty sermons (containing 
expositions of the Lord's Prayer, Creed and Ten Commandments) entitled the "Balance 
of God's mercy," prefaced with an address to the beloved supporters of the church, 
being the respected and much beloved brethren his colleagues; the elders and 
deacons of the congregation of Jesus Christ at Flatbush, Brooklyn, Bushwick; New 
Jamaica, Flatlands. Gravesend and New Utrecht, as also to the Elders and Deacons at 
Schenectady and the members of the same, being my first congregation ministered unto 
in these regions, with the numerous and increasing members of the congregations 
here in each forenamed village. 

He was also the author of '• The mirror of self-knowledge " (1720), a small volume of 
moral precepts, which he translated {rem the ancient philosophers. 



68 HISTOEY OF THE 

Netherlands. He came to Flatbush 1706, and died July 18, 
1741, after a lingering illness, leaving children and a good 
name. He was more of a formalist than the evangelical 
Freeman. 

Thomas Roraejn was born at Pompton, N. J., March 20, 
1729, and died at Fonda, October 22, 1791, and was buried 
under the church. He studied divinity under Goetschius 
and T. Frelinghuysen. In 1765 he received the degree of 
A. M. from Priuceton College. 

Ulpianus Van Sinderen born in Holland was called to suc- 
ceed Antonides and to be a colleague of Arondeus, 1717 ; 
but they did not well agree. He married Cornelia Schenck 
(171:3), who was thrown out of a chaise and fell down a 
bank at New Utrecht, and died a few days after, at Mr. 
Cortelyou's. He was declared empritus in 1786 and died at 
Flatlands, July 23, 1796, in his eighty-ninth year, leaving 
children. 

Johannes Casparus Rubell, born 1719, was called (1757) 
from Rhinebeck as colleague to Van Sinderen. He became 
too fond of drink and was deposed in 1781. The rest of his 
life he spent in preparing quack medicines, styling himself 
chiinicus. He died at Flatbush, May 19, 1797, leaving pos- 
terity. He was President of General Synod, October, 1773. 

Johannes Henricus Goetschius was born in Switzerland., 
Coming to this country with his father a minister, he studied 
under Rev. G. H. Dorstius, a German, who took it upon 
himself to ordain him, which act was disallowed by the 
Cetus, and caused much trouble afterwards, though he re- 
ceived his examinations preparatory and peremptory, pre- 
ceding his incluction into the church of Jamaica . He died 
at Hackensack, November 14, 1774, aged fifty-seven. He 
had three wives and sixteen children. 

Martinus Schoon maker was born at Rochester, Ulster 
county, 1737. Studied the languages under Goetschiiis aud 
theology under Mariuus. Preached at Gravesend and Har- 
lem 1765-84; and occasionally in Queens county during the 
Revolution ; served the combined Churches of Kings county 
from 1784 till his death, May 20, 1824. He married Mary 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 69 

Basset at Aquackanonck, 1761. He preached only in Dutch 
and spoke English with hesitation. A funeral service of his 
at Flatbush is thus described : " In 1819 I was present at a 
funeral. As I entered the room I observed the coffin eleva- 
ted on a table in one corner. The Domine, abstracted and 
grave, was seated at the upper end. All was still, a simple 
recognition or half-audible enquiry, as one after another 
arrived, was all that passed. Directly the sexton, followed 
by a negro, made his appearance with glasses and decanter, 
and wine was handed to each. Some declined, others drank 
a solitary glass. This ended, again the sexton appeared 
with pipes and tobacco. The Domine smoked his pipe and 
a few followed his example. When the whiffs had ceased to 
curl around the head of the Domine, he arose with evident 
feeling and in a quiet and subdued tone made a short but 
apparently impressive address in Dutch. A short prayer 
concluded the service, and then the sexton taking the lead 
was followed by the Domine, the doctor and the pall-bearers 
with white scarfs and black gloves. The corpse was taken 
to the church-yard, followed b}' a long procession of rela- 
tives, friends and neighbors. No bustle, no confusion, no 
indecent haste attended that funeral. No rattling of car- 
riages, no tramping of horses, no cracking of whips to disturb 
the proprieties of so solemn an occasion." 

Solomon Froeligh, D. D., was born near Red Hook, May 
29, 1750, and died at Schraalenburgh, N. J., October 8, 1827. 
He studied awhile under Romeyn, and thence entered the 
academy at Hackensack, supporting himself by teaching 
school. He studied theology under Goetschius. In 1774 
he received the degree of A. M. from Princeton College, and 
in 1811 that of S. T. P. from Queens College. * In 1797 he 



* We.tbe iinderwritten Consistory of the NetherDutch Reformed congregations of Queens 
county (after calling on the name of tlie Lord) with our Pastor. Sol. Froeligh, have 
deputed our brother. Elder Jacob Rapelye, to the Particular Synod of ministers and 
elders, to be held at New York, the 19th of this month, for the upbuilding of our Nether 
Dutch Zion, to represent us there, praying that God through His Spirit may guide the 
worthy Synod in all matters of importance that may come before them. 
Thus done at our meeting in Jamaica, September 18th, anno 1775. 

Jeromus Remsen, 
Daniel Luyster, 
Peter Monfort. 

i8 



70 HISTORY OF THE 

was appointed professor of theology, and instructed thirty 
persons for the ministry. Being dissatisfied with some pro- 
ceedings of the Reformed Church he seceded and organized 
the True Reformed Dutch Church of which a few congrega- 
tions yet survive. He was suspended (1823) but persisted 
in preaching till August 5, 1827. He married Rachel Van- 
derbeck who died fifteen years before him. 

CHRISTENING AND COMMUNION. 

The first time a mother left home after the birth of her 
child was to cany it to Church to be baptized. In early 
times there were sponsors or witnesses (in Dutch getuygen ) 
who undertook or stood for the child. They were usually 
relatives. In 1753-7 they were called in our records compere 
and peet, or godfather and godmother. The woman after 
whom a child was named, sometimes claimed the privilege of 
presenting and holding it for baptism. * 

At the Lord's Supper it was the custom of the minister to 
invite and even urge the communicants to approach the 
holy table, who seemed reluctant to come. Such was then 
the fashion. After a long exhortation some more prominent 
member rose and moved. He was gradually followed by the 
rest. After the men had been served, then the women were 
in like manner exhorted. As the people came to the table 
they laid their offerings thereon, and standing around the 
table received from the minister'^s hands. The first Com- 
munion vessels were of pewter. 

After the new Church was built in 1833 the communicants 
leceived at their seats in the body of the Church, the dea- 
cons passing the elements. Formerly the communion ser- 
vice was too often read hurriedly. Latterly the ceremony 
has been made more interesting and impressive by distinct 



* Baptism was then performed by trine aspersion, that is, the minister dipped hi» 
fingers three times in the basin of water, and at each sprinkling rejjeated the name of 
one of the persons of the Trinity. When a young couple married they usually left off 
their youthful frivolity, entered on the serioiis business of life, became staid and sober, 
and had their children regularly baptised, as their parents had done before them. Some- 
times English parents who did not understand a word of the Dutch formula had chil- 
dren baijtised. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 71 

and emphatic reading and by the body of communicants 
rising to the recitation of the Creed 

Our Dutch ancestors generally kept their religion in their 
hearts rather than on their lips ; though Avith some, their con- 
versation easily and readily ran into a religious channel. 
Few, probably, erected a family altar or made extemporan- 
eous prayer in public. In some families the Bible " was 
read at evening by way of devotion, and on Sundays especi- 
ally, the chapter from which the minister took his text, t The 
preaching was then expository. The preacher often an- 
nounced his text and the outline of his sermon ( called in 
Latin, exordium remotum) and then made the long prayer. 
He then took up his sermon and stuck to his text all the 
way through. The church had, however, provided printed 
prayers for such as chose to read them, in a manual corres- 
ponding to the New England Primer. It contained the alpha- 
bet, spelling lessons and easy reading. Then came the 
Lord's Prayer, Creed and Ten Commandments, morning and 
evening prayers, grace before and after meat. In every 
well-ordered family the children were made to learn by heart 
the Lord's Prayer, Creed and Decalogue. In religious mat- 
ters the Dutch were not aggressive, though adhering stiffly 
to their own Church, they were not given to proselyting- 
The long internal dissensions, the scanty preaching on 
account of the widely scattered population and the long per- 
sistence in the use of the Dutch language in public worship 
must be among the the causes of our finding so many Dutch 
names in other religious denominations. 

We have no mention of the church owning a bier or 
funeral pall, till December, 1839 ; nor of burials under the 

* Almost everj' family had the Dutch folio Bible weighing from sixteen to eighteen 
pounds, so heavy that it could hardly be read without its being laid on a table. In it 
were usually recorded the births, deaths and marriages of the family. 

t The Dutch Sunday was not a dull day, it was rather a festival than a fast day. It was 
a day of enjoyment as well as of Divine worship. The family then had a better repast, 
the best the house could afford. The children read in the Testament, and learned by 
heart the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and Ten Commandments. Having attended Church 
in the morning, the old folks usually spent the afternoon at home, reading good books, 
while the young men, singly or in numbers, '• went to see the girls." 



72 HISTORY OF THE 

church, as was often the custom formerly, at the death of 
distinguished persons. The tolling or funeral bell could be 
had in anj of the churches, on paying the sexton.* 

CHUEOH EEPAIRED. 

Martin Johnson, Stephen Lott, Isaac Hendrickson and 
William Golder were chosen to repair the church. There is 
no account of the expenditures, preserved. We have, only 
the heading of a subscription list without the names, as fol- 
lows : 

We the undersigned promise to pay to the builders chosen, May 28, 
1785, the different sums annexed to. our names; and that for sittings 
that shall fall to our lot. 

1786, November 21. — Cornelius Monfort and Stephen 
Lott reckoned and found in the alms-chest £49, 15s, 4d. 

1787, January 8. — Paid to the Widow Codwise X2. 

1789, June 1.— Jacob Adriance and John Dui'ye, Jr., ac- 
counted, c£29, 19s, 8d, in the chest. 

1791, August 5. — Elbert Hoogland and Martin Johnson 

accounted, £16, 10s. 6d, in the chest, and a note of Rem and 

Ares Remsen for .£14, besides a parcel of coppers and old 

silver. 

CALL OF MR. VAN NEST, 

1785, March 10. — At an extra meeting of Classis a calif 

* 1773, July 24, Mrs.Rapelye paid five shillings each to the Dutch and Episcopal 
Churches for a funeral bell for her husband John. — 1775, January 10, the executors of 
Garret Laton paid for bell and use of pall of the Episcopal church. — 1775, August 26, Mrs. 
Ditmars paid Eijiscopal Church for grave, pall and bell for her husband.— 177G, October 
29, Abraham Ditmars paid for use of pall. — 1781, October 9, Douwe Ditmars paid for 

pall. 1784, October 12, John Williamson paid for pall and bell. — 1814, February 9, the 

executors of Jost Van Brunt, Sr., paid Episcopal Church for his grave twelve shillings, 
use of pall six shillings, funeral bell four shillings. — 181 'i, June 4, twelve shillings wag 
paid for John Williamson's grave in the Episcopal Church yard. 

In 1749-50. — Jacob Vanderbilt and Laurens Half paid £3, 9s, ;<d, for a funeral pall (dood- 
kleed) for the use of the congregation of Oysterbay alone and not for those of Jamaica, 
Newtown and Hempstead. It was to be under the control of Simon Losee aud Peter 
Luyster. When two lay dead and unbiu-ied at the same time, the older was to have the 
preference in its use. 

t His salary was £125 per year with a parsonage, as appears by his receipts : 

October 16, 1792. — Received from the Consistory of the congregation at Jamaica the- 
sum of £15, 12s, Gd, in full for a half years salary for the congregation. 

■ By me Rynieb Van Nest. 



PLAN OF PEWS AND NAMES OF PEW HOLDERS IN FIRST 
CHURCH, 1785. 



Garret Van Nostrand. 
Luke Bergeu 
JohanneB Snedeker. 

Isaac Lefferts 




20 



21 



IG 


1 


15 


2 


14 


3 


13 


4 


12 


5 


II 


6 


10 


7 


9 


8 










\\\ 1 


w 


\ 




Minister's Pew. 
John Suydam. 
Hendrick Eldert. 
Isaac Lett'erts. 
Abraham Polhemus. 
Benjamin He{<eman. 
Isaac Hendrickson. 
Stephen Lott. 
Abraham Lott. 
Eibert Adriance. 
John Amberman. 
Martin Johnson. 
Johannis Wyckoff. 
Garret Van Wicklen. 
Hendrick Emmons. 
Tunis Covert. 
Casparus Springsteen. 
William Monfort. 
John Duryea. 
John Suydam. 
Abraham Suydam. 
William Hendrickson. 
Ares Remsen. 



Dowe. John & Roelef Duryea. 
Garret Durland. 
Elbert Snedeker. 

Daniel Remsen and 
Daniel Lent. 

*Martin John- 
son. 



24 Stephen Lott. 



t "Fore-Singer." 
Jost Van Brunt. 
Barnet Bennet. 
Hendrick Brinckerhoff. 
Isaac Amberman. 
Abraham Golder. 
Dow Duryea. 
Maretie Ditmars. 
Isaac Brinckerhoff. 
Jacobus Ryder. 
William Golder. 
Jacob Adriance. 
Cornelius Monfort. 
Johannis Remsen. 
Maria Dilmars. 
Abraham Ditmars. 
EJbert Hooglaud. 
Ares Remsen. 
Martin Schenck. 
Johannis H. Lott. 
Hendrick S. Lott. 
Abraham Van Arsdalen. 

Cornelius Bennett. 
John Williamson. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 73 

from the four united cougregations of Queens, county on the 
Rev, Reynier Van Nest, minister at Shawangunk, was pro- 
duced, dated March 7, and laid on the table for the appro- 
bation of this Reverened assembly, which call in its entirety 
being conformable to the sincere aim or design of the congre- 
gations and being found sufficiently formal is approved and 
confirmed and the Lord's blessing thereon invoked. Ordered 
that he be installed at Success by M. Schoonmaker. — March 
25, the Rev. Reynier Van Nest* called and lately invested 
as preacher in the four united congregations of Queens 
county exhibited his dismission and satisfactory certificate 
from his former congregation and also a like attestation from 
the Rev. Classis of Kingston, by which his Reverence, in a 
christian and brotherly manner, is commended and given in 
charge to this Rev. Classis. September 20, Mr. Van Nest, 
having taken his seat in this Classis, he and his elder, Isaac 
Lefferts, have signed the articles according to the Synod's 
resolution of October, 1772t. 

1788, June 11. — The Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church 
set apart this day as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer 
that the members of the State Convention may be inspired 
with wisdom from on High, and that their decisions may 
perpetuate our civil and religious privileges. 

1789. — Wednesday, January 28th, is to be observed as a 
day of humiliation, fasting and prayer, by all the Dutch and 
Presbyterian Churches in New York and New Jersey, that 
God would put a stop to the progress of the destroying in- 
sect (the Hessian fly) winch is cutting off the fruits of the 
earth in the Middle States ; for the establishment of wise, 
efficient, united and permanent civil government, &c. 

In early times the Dutch were averse to having ministers 
of other denominations occupy their pulpits. In 1786, the 

* Kynier Van Nest was born in New Jersey in 1739 near Somerville, and died there, 
July 9, 1813. He was educated by his pastor John Frelinghuysen and called to Shawan- 
gunk in 1774 where he married his predecessor's widow. He preached usually in Dutch, 
and when (by vote of Consistory) he preached in English '■ he made but a poor fist of it," 
as people said. 

t Up to 1791, the records of the Classis are in Dutch. 

19 



74 



HISTORY OF THE 



congregation of Success voted that no service of any other 

rehgion ( that is contrary to the doctrines of the Reformed 

Dutch Church ) should be performed in the Church without 

the consent and agreement of the Consistory and a majority 

of the true members of the Church. 

In 1811, the Classis cautioned the Consistory of Oysterbay 

against having the services of Rev. Bradford Marcy, a Con- 

gregationalist. In 1828, a complaint was made to Classis 

that a Methodist Minister and a Presbyterian Missionary 

also had been allowed to preach in the vacant Church at 

Success. 

UNION HALL ACADEMY. 

1791, March 1. — A meeting was held in Jamaica for build- 
ing an academy". Rev. Rynier Van Nest was chairman. 
The following Dutch names occur in the list of subscribers : 



£ 

Amberman, John 2 

Bennet, Bernardus, 4 

Bogart, Cor's (Fos. Mead) . . 2 

Boerura, Aury 1 

Dewitt, John 5 

Ditmars, Abi^ahamf 5 

Ditmars, Abraham Jr 5 

Duryea, John 2 

Duryea, Aaron 1 

Eldert, Samuel 1 

Eldert, Hendrick 1 

Hendrickson, Bernardus.. . 5 

Hendrickson, Hendrick ... 5 

Hendrickson, Wm 1 

Hoogland, Albert — three 
loads of timber .... 

Johnson, Martin 5 

Lefforts, Jacobus 1 

Lefferts, Isaac Jr 5 



£ s. 

Lamberson, Waters 3 

Lamberson, Bernardus 10 

Lett, Hendrick 1 

Snedeker Rem 1 

Sprong, David 5 

Suydam, Femetie 2 

Totten, Joseph 5 

Van Arsdale, Abraham 2 

Van Brunt, Jost 3 

Van Dam, Richard 5 

Van Dyne, John 10 

Van Lew, John 1 

Van Lew, James . . 10 

Van Lew, John 5 

Van Nest, Rynier 5 

Vandei'bilt, John 2 

Williamson, John 10 

Wyckoff, John -4 



* On November 3, 1832, I became Principal of this academy, and retired from the situ/- 
ation of classical teacher in April, 18G5, with John N. Brinckerhoff. then Principal. 

Jamaica, June 13, 177fi. 

t To Capt. Abm. Ditmaes, Esq.: You are hereby required and commauded to meet with 
the company of militia of foot under your command, completely equipped according to. 
law, on Monday, 17th inst.. at 10 o'clock in the morniug, at the Green, at Beaver Pond, at 
Jamaica, in order to join the First Battalion of this county then and there to be mus- 
tered and exercised. Jkromus Remskn, Col. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 75 

1792, Oct. 17. — It was decided to have the services in 
Church, half the time in English. Hitherto they had been 
wholly in Dutch, and hardly intelligible to the young. An 
English pulpit Bible had to be bought {£2, 14s.) and an 
English Psalm-book (6s.).* Simeon Marston (1798) and John 
Bremner, Jr. (1801) were in succession fore-singers in Eng- 
lish ; and Isaac Brinckerhoff from 1799 to 1805, and his son 
Hendrick, in Dutch, from 1806 to 1823. Their salaries 
varied from $2 to |8 per year. They at first sat in one end 
of the deacons' pew bj^ a high-raised book-board. They 
used a pitch-pipe and afterwards a tuningfork, on giving out 
the tuue. The bellringer was paid $4 a year. 

CALL OF MR. COOPER. 

1794, March 12. — At an extra meeting of Classis a call of 
the four combined congregations of Queens county, on 
Zacharias H. Kuypers (or Cooper, in English) was presented 
for approbation ; after reading which the Classis found it to 
be regular, approved the same and resolved that it might be 
put in the hands of the candidate. The members of Classis 
could not refrain from expressing their surprise at the small 
and inadequate sum (£150) mentioned in the call as the 
annual salary promised to their minister. They wish to im- 
press on the minds of the people the obligation of supporting 
the Gospel in a decent and honorable manner, and of ren- 
dering the annual incomes of their ministers proportional to 
the increased prices of the necessaries of life. 

1794, April 29. — Rev. Z. H. Cooper, a candidate licensed 
by the Classis of Hackensack, having received a call from 
Queens county, applied for trial in order to his ordination. 
He produced a dismission and recommendation, and was 
admitted to trial. He gave a discourse from Galatians, v. i.; 



* In 1788 Synod, with a view of introducing uniformity of English Psalmody in the 
Chui'ch, ordered a Psalm and Hymnbook to be compiled from Tate and Brady, Dr. Watts 
and a book used in the Collegiate Church, N. Y. This book with revisions and alterations 
to it in 1813, 1837 and l>v47, was used in Church till Easter Sunday, April 9. 1871, when the 
present Hymnal superseded it. 



76 HISTORY OF THE 

and the Classis proceeded to examine liim as to bis skill in 
the original languages of the Holy Scriptures, and his 
acquaintance with natural and revealed religion, in all which 
they obtained satisfaction, as well as of his own attachment to 
Divine truths, and agreed to admit him to ordination for the 
ministry. 

Classis appointed the Rev. Messrs. Van Nest, Livingston, 
Lowe, Stryker and Jackson to attend at Success, on the 
second Sabbath of July, solemnly to set him apart for the 
sacred ministry, with such forms as are used in this Church. 
Dr. Livingston or Mr. Lowe to preach the ordination sermon. 

ORDINATION OF MR. COOPER. 

On Sunday, July 13, the Church at Success ( now Lake- 
ville), the largest in the county, was crowded to its utmost 
capacity by people eager to witness the novel and interest- 
ing ceremony. Those that could not get inside the Church 
took seats out of their wagons to stand upon, peering in and 
listening at the windows, if so be, they might hear or see 
something ■" The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. 
John H. Livingston on a text from St. Matthew, xxviii : 18, 
19, 20 — "And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, 'all 
power is given unto me, &c. Go ye therefore, and teach 
all nations,' " &o. 

DIVISIONS OF THE DISCOURSE. 

First — The authority and ability with which the Redeemer 
is invested ; Second — The commission and work of the 
Apostles ; Third — A gracious promise of support and help. 
In the application he addressed the candidate who is to be 
ordained. First— Upon the work of the Ministry ; Second — 
Upon the encouragement and promises here given ; Third — 

* That the ceremony of ordination might be seen of all the people, it was usual t» 
have a staging erected before the pulpit, and partlj- resting on the pews, whereon sat the 
ministers and candidate, who kneeled at the laying on of hands. This was so done at the- 
ordination of Rev. Henry Heermance, at Manhasset, September 20, 18 6. Sometimes 
ordination is perform.ed at the foot of the pulpit, and can be seen by a few only. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 77 

Upon the duty of professing people, that they must learn, 
become disciples, attend the ordinances, keep the commands 
of Christ, (fee. 

He then addressed the people on the duties they owe : 
first, to Christ; second, to themselves; and third, to their 
pastors. Next he addressed Van Nest, the colleague of the 
new pastor, the Consistory, the whole body of the people, 
and thus closed : " Now may it be Amen to you." Amen.'-" 

1796, November 6. — The treasurer paid for cleaning the 
Church for the Communion, three shillings and nine pence; 
for three loaves of bread, three shillings ; for a gallon of 
wine, ten shillings. 

VAN NEST LEAVES. 

L797, June 8. — At an extra session of the Classis, Mr. 
Van Nest produced a call from the Church of Schoharie, and 
gave several important reasons for accepting it, with which 
the Classis were fully satisfied ; while they sincerely regret 
tlxe removal of a brother from their body, much endeared to 
them by his worth and usefulness. Mr. Van Nest attending 
on Synod could not get his regular dismission from his con- 
gregation. As soon as it may be obtained, the president is 
authorized to furnish him with ample recommendations and 
dismission from this Board. Mr. Cooper was now sole pas- 
tor of the four congregations. 

1809, September 2. — The Classis find the congregations of 
Queens county have delayed for several years to call an 
additional minister. Resolved, That Mr. Kuypers and an 
elder from each of his congregations be notified by the 
clerk to attend at the next extra meeting of Classis (11th 
inst.) to explain why such delay has happened, and to receive 
such direction as Classis may think proper upon the subject. 
September 11. — Three of the elders appeared and told 
Classis that as soon as they could effect the sale of the par- 

* As it was in harvest time. Dr. Livingstou improved the occasion and flattered the 
farmers by saying : " the harvest truly is great hut the laborers are few, &c. 

20 



78 HISTORY OF THE 

sonage (which is the common property of the four congrega- 
tions) they would form other combinations and call another 
minister. Whereupon the Classis recommended to them to 
agree as soon as possible in the division of their common 
property, that the new combination may be formed, and 
they proceed to the call of another minister. 

1801, September 1. — Elder John De Witt, from Newtown, 
informed Classis that at a late meeting of the Consistories 
of the four Churches of Queens county, it was resolved to 
appoint four commissioners to report to Classis the incon- 
venience of their present connection and request Classis to 
dissolve it, and unite Jamaica with Newtown, and Oyster- 
bay with Success, for the purpose of making separate calls 
in those new congregations. Only one commissioner was 
present, and the subject was postponed 'till next session. 
1802, April 20. — John De Witt and Albert Hoogland appear 
before Classis and say they were last year appcunted by the 
united Consistories of Jamaica, Newtown, Success and 
Oysterbay, with Abm. Monfort and Daniel Bogart to request 
Classis to dissolve the combination of those Churches and 
unite Jamaica and Newtown into one, to enable them to call 
a separate minister. Classis enquired of Mr. Cooper who 
assented to the statement as true, and that Success and 
Oysterbay had no objection. Though Cogart and Monfort 
were absent, it must be from some other cause. Classis 
grant the request and hope the two other Churches will do 
the same ; but not to interfere with their present engagement 
to Mr. Cooper.* A call from Jamaica and Newtown on the 
candidate, Jacob Schoonmaker was presented and approved. 
September 14, Mr. Schoonmaker preached before Classis 
from I Peter, i : 9. He tvas then examined in the original 
languages of the Old and New Testaments, on didactic and 
polemic theology. Agreed that he be ordained in Newtown, 
on the fourth Sabbath of October, and that Rev'ds G. A. 
Kuypers, P. Lowe, John F. Jackson and Z. H. Kuypers with 

* Classis ordered that preaching on the Heidelberg Catechism be recommenced iu 
Queens county, that the children be catechised and families visited. 



80 



HISTORY OF THE 



Eeformed Dutch Churches of Jamaica and Newtown, seven 
acres of hind for a parsonage, bounded north-east by Monson 
Hoyt, south by John Mottley (both lands late of Edward 
Bardin), south-west by Isaac Clason and north by the 
Ferry road. — Queens county records, X., p. 162. 

1805, March 4. — We, the subscribers promise to pay the 
sums annexed to our names, for buying a parsonage for the 
minister who now and henceforth may serve the Dutch 
congregations of Jamaica and Newtown. 



Kem Snedeker. , 10 

Hendrick S. Lott, 8 

Isaac Lefferts 8 

John Wyckoff. 8 

Barnet Bennett 8 

Stephen Lott. 10 

Hend'k Emans 6 

Johannes S. Lott, . 6 

Stephen Lott, Jr 5 

Barnet V. Suydam 6 

Abm. Snedeker 1 

John Williamson 4 

Abm. Lott 2 

Jost V. Brunt 2 

Hend'k Hendrickson. 20 

Eem Remsen 4 



10 



12 



£. 

Isaac Brinckerhoff. ... 6 

Albert Hoogland 10 

Isaac Hendrickson 10 

Albert Snedeker 5 

Mary Monfort 2 

Aletta Monfort 1 

David Sprong 2 

Aaron Duryea 1 

Jacob Conk lin 4 

Jacobus Ryder 

Nicholas Ryder 

Paul Duryea 

Rulef Duryea 

Garret Snedeker 

Douwe Duryea 

Garret Van Wicklen 



10 



10 



The other subscription papers are lost. 
1810, October 31.— List of Pewholders 



No. Pew. 

1 Rem Snedeker. 
Rulef Duryea. 
4 Johannes S. Lott. 
6 Abm. Rapelye. 
8 Hendrick S. Lott. 
13 

14 Rem Snedeker. 

15 Jacobus Ryder. 

16 Michael Golder. 

17 Jos. Hendrickson. 

18 Aletta Monfort. 

19 John Duryea. 

22 Daniel Hitchcock. 



No. Pew. 

25 Jas. Hendrickson. 

26 Tunis Van Brunt. 

27 Abm. Hendrickson. 

28 Hendrick Hendrickson. 

29 Rem Snedeker. 

30 Isaac Brinckerhoff. 

31 Albert Hoogland, sold to Crin- 

yonce Sutphin. 

32 Johannes Lott, Jr. 

33 John and Bernardus Bennet. 

35 Jas. L. Rapelye. 

36 Aaron Duryea. 

37 Stephen Lott. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 81 



No. Pew. 

55 St. Lott. 

57 Wm. Hendrickson, Jr. 

59 Hendrick Suydam. 



No. Pew. 

38 Isaac Hendrickson. 

39 Wm. Totteu. 

40 Stephen Lott. 

42 Johannes H. Eldert. 60 John Duryea. 

43 John D. Suydam, deceased. 61 Aaron Duryea. 

44 Minister's pew. 62 John V. Nostrand. 

51 Abm. Snedeker, sold to Wilhel- , 68 Rev. Jacob Schoonraaker. 

mus Stoolhoff. 69 Bernardus Lamberson. 

53 Isaac and Abra. B. Selover. 70 Albert Hoogland. 

54 Johannes S. Lott, sold to Luke 71 Wm. Rhodes and Fred. Smith. 

Covert. 72 Johannes Wycoif. 

1812, August 26. — Chosen trustees of the Church : Rem 
Snedeker, Aaron Durjea, John I. Duryea, Abm. Hendrickson. 

The whole expense of painting and repairing the Church 
was X290, 3s., lOd., which was paid in 1815. 

£ s. d. 

Jacob Sherred's* bills 172 4 3 

David Lamberson 1 10 11 

John Dunn 11 8 

Stephen Hicks 1 8 

Gold leaf 2 9 

Wright & Herriman 17 1 8 

Wyckoff & Van Dine = 10 8 

Isaac Peck, joist and planks 9 17 

Wm. Sales, " 1 3 

Parcel's bill 14 9 4 

Mr. Baruum 27 4 

Wm. Hendrickson, for scaffolding steeple. 10 

Jonathan Jones 8 6 

Crinyonce Sutphin's bill .... 18 18 6 

11 1 



£290 3 10 



1813, June 7. — John Rider, carpenter, laid the corner- 
stone, of the Presbyterian church. While it was building the 
congregation met for worship in the Reformed Dutch Church. 

1814, August 3. — The British being expected to attack 
New York, a part of the Militia of Queens county was 
ordered to Brooklyn, and the farmers were invited to cart 

* Sherred, a painter aud glazier of New York, left a legacy of $60,000, by which "Sher- 
red Hall" was built. 
21 



FTKST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 79 

Elders Chas. Duryea, Robert Manley, Isaac Mead and 
David Waldron be a committee to attend to it. Lowe to 
preach the ordination sermon in English, and Jackson to 
preside. 

At his first coming, Mr. Schoonmaker being unmarried, 
boarded at Mr. Saedeker's, Mr. Lott's and Mr. Conklin's. 
Haviog married Catharine Ludlow he occupied the parson- 
age, now owned by Jos. P. Disbrow. 

1802, May 20. — Builders of the Church chosen, viz : Hen- 
drick Hendricksou, Jost Van Brunt, Stephen Lott, Isaac 
Hendrickson. 

1801, April 17. — The first record is made of a contribution 
($2.50) to the Missionary Society.* 

1801, March 31. — An act passed the Legislature for the 
sale by auction of the parsonage. Half the proceeds to be 
paid to the congregations of Oysterbay and Success to buy 
another for themselves, and the other half to Jamaica and 
Newtown. The advertisement of sale was published six 
weeks in a Brooklyn Newspaper. The commissioners to sell 
it were Abm. P.)lhemus, Jr., of Newtown, Abm. Ditmars, of 
Jamaica, Abm. Scheuck, of Great Neck, and Jacob Van 
Wicklen, of 0\sterbay. The parsonage (now belonging to 
Aaron A. Degrauw) was sold, May 6, 1801, to Zebediah and 
Dorothy Story, for $2,277.50. Deed signed by Abm. (and 
Charity) Polhemus, heir of Abm. Polhemus, one of the orig- 
inal purchasers. — Queens conniy records, 0., p. 192. 

A PARSONAGE BOUGHT. 

1805, April 13.— Isaac Clason, an India merchant of New 
York, for $3,000 sold to Albert Hoogland,t Johannes S. Lott, 
Johannes Dewitt and Hem Hegeman, as trustees of the 



♦Probably there were many collections taken up in Church for charitable purposes, of 
which no record was made. In 1751 the new Church at Kakiat, or New Hempstead, built 
by Dutch emigrants from Queens county, applied to their mother Church for aid ; and iu 
17."i.5, .£2, 10s. was given as an alms to Kakiat or Tappan. 

t 1792, Feb. 6.— Albert Hoogland, Flushing, offers for sale cheap, for no fault but only 
for want of employ, a negro wench, aged thirty, who understands all kinds of country 
house-work, with her two children, a girl aged eighteen, and a boy aged six.— /AiiVy 
Adoertiser. 



82 



HISTORY OF THE 



timber for the constraction of Fort Greene. There were one 
hiinclred and twenty loads of fascines, (twenty-five bundles 
each) brought from Jamaica to Brooklyn. The Rev. Jacob 
Schoonmaker headed the procession, Mr. Eigenbrodt and 
the pupils of the Academy assisted the people in cutting the 
fascines. 

1814, September 7. — There are one thousand two hundred 
of General Johnson's brigade of infantry, from Kings and 
Queens counties, now encamped on Fort Greene, Brooklyn. 
The Jamaica Militia marched to Brooklyn September 2. 

1811. — Statistics of the Churches of Queens county : 

Jamaica 107 families, 56 communicants, 

Newtown ' 79 " 76 " 

Success, 54 " 49 

Oysterbay 66 " 50 

THE CHUKCH KEPAIRED. 

1815. — The expense of painting and repairing the church 
was .£290, 3s., lOd., which was paid by the trustees elected 
August 26, 1812, viz.: Rem Snedeker, Aaron Duryea, 
John I. Duryea, Abm. Hendrickson, and assessed on the 
pews as follows : 



1 Albert Hoogland $10 50 

2 Garret Dorland , 3 00 

Paul Duryea 6 00 

3 Williamson Ryder 3 75 

Garret Dorland 3 75 

4 Albert Snedeker 4 50 

5 Nelly Lott 9 GO 

6 Rem Remsen. 6 OO 

7 John Bennett 6 00 

8 Jacobus Lott 6 00 

9 Hend'k S. Lott. 6 00 

10 Abm. V. Arsdalen 00 

11 Ruth Golder 6 00 

12 Bernardus Bennet 6 00 



13 Nicholas Williamson. $ 6 00 

15 Hend'k S. Lott 3 00 

16 Rem Snedeker 6 00 

17 Nicholas Ryder 7 50 

18 Michael Golder 7 50 

20 Aletta Monfort. 7 50 

21 John I. Duryea 7 50 

22 John D. Ditmis ... 7 50 

23 Abm. Ditmnrs 7 50 

24 Dr. Daniel Hitchcock 7 50 

25 Bernardus Lamberson 7 50 

26 Tunis Van Brunt* 7 50 

27 Barnet Bennett 7 50 

28 Jas. Hendrickson 7 50 



* John Eider and Luke Cavert received, May 29, 1821. of Jas. Foster $33, for pew No. 26, 

that did belong to Tunis Van Brunt's estate. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



83 



29 Isaac and John Amberman. $7 50 

30 Abm. Hendrickson 7 50 

31 Hend'k Hendrickson 7 50 

32 Rem Snedeker 7 50 

33 Hendrick Brinckerhoff . . 7 50 

34 Crinyonce Zutplien, 7 50 

35 Johannes Lott* 7 50 

36 John Bennett 7 50 

37 Joshua Mills 7 50 

38 Jas. L. Rapelyet 7 50 

39 Aaron Duryea 7 50 

40 Stephen Lott 7 50 

41 A bra. I. Hendrickson .... 7 50 

42 Wm. Totten 7 50 

43 Stephen Lott, 7 50 

44 Isaac and Jas. Lefferts ... 7 50 

45 Johannes H. Eldert ..... 7 50 

46 Hendrick S. Lott and Bar- 7 50 

net V. Suydam 7 50 

47 James Van Siclen and 

Cor's Eldert 7 50 

48 Eev. Jacob Schoonmaker. 

49 Tunis Covert and Catha- 

rine Covert 7 50 

50 Hend'k Emans 7 50 

51 Garret, Tunie, Evert, Der- 



rick and John V. Wick- 

len $ 7 50 

52 John Wj^ckoff 7 50 

53 Phebe Johnson 9 00 

54 Derick Amberman 4 50 

John Hegeman 3 00 

55 Abm. Snedeker 7 50 

57 Isaac and Abm. B. Selover 7 50 

58 Lucas Coevert 3 00 

59 John Wyckoff 4 50 

60 Stephen Lott 6 00 

61 Aury Eemsen 6 00 

62 Wm. Hendrickson, Jr ... 6 00 

63 Abm. Lott 6 00 

64 Rem. Suydam 3 00 

Abm. Hegeman 3 00 

65 Wm. Willis 6 00 

66 Aaron Duryea 6 00 

67 David Springsteen 6 00 

68 Isaac and Jas. Lefferts ... 9 00 

69 Wm. Stoothoff 4 50 

70 Ann Bergen 7 50 

71 Rem Nostrant andNath'l 

Nostrant 6 00 

72 Nicholas Wyckoff. 10 50 



MONEY PAID OUT. 

£ s. 

1787, Jan. 8. — Given to a stranger 12 

1788, June 14.— Abm. Probasco (carpenter ?) 4 13 

1791, Jan. 24,— " " " 3 7 

" " — Isaac Rikeman 4 

Dec. 21 — Abm Probasco 17 

1794, May 19 — For expenses of Domine Cooper 3 15 

Aug. 19 — Cost of Mr. Cooper's procurance 3 17 

1795, Ap'l 21.— Gave the fore-singer and bell-ringer 3 

1798, May 1. — Simeon Marston, fore-singer in English 3 4 

" Oct. 27. — Wra. P Kuypers, one Sunday's preaching 1 12 

" " — Received in exchange for the old coppers 7 

1799, May 1, — John Amberman, bell-ringer, one year 1 12 

" " — Isaac Brinckerhoff, Dutch fore-singer 2 8 



* 176.5, February 22.— Jolianues and Petrus Lott offer for sale the farm of Hendrick 
Lott. deceased, three miles west of Jamaica, on the road to the Ferry. It has a house, 
barn, orchard, stone well, a watering place for cattle and one hundred and fifty acres 
of land. 

t Sold, October 29, 1825, to Nicholas Williamson and John Van Brunt. 



84 



HISTORY OF THE 



1800, Ap'l 27. — Phillip H. Durj-ea, proponent, or candidate 2 

1802, Jan. 3. — Sundaj^ — Isaac Van Doren, preaching 2 

" Feb. 17. — "Wednesday, and March 28, Sunday, Jacob 

Schoonmaker, preaching 4 

" Ap'l 19.— Mr. Cooper, for writing Schoonmaker's call 16 

" May 24.— Stephen Lott, for repairing the Church ,50 

1804, May 1, — John Bremner, Jr., English singer 4 4 

1805, May 14, and 1806, June 13 (Fridays).— Rev. Van Nest 2 

1808, May 20.— To the worthy Domine Van Nest 2 

1809, Sep. 21. — Cor's R. Duryea, for leveling the road by the 

Church 6 

1810, Feb. 27. — John D. Ditmis, for moving fence 1 15 

1810, Mar. 7. — Hendrick Hendrickson, posts and rails for par- 
sonage 15 

1812, Jan. 1.— For cleaning the Church 3 

1819, July 6. — Money taken out of the alms-chest, for Jack ; 
14 lbs. rye flour 3s. ; quart of molasses Is. ; 
1 lb. butter 2s. ; loaf of bread Is. ; load of 
walnut wood £1, 48 Ill 

STATE OF CHURCHES IIN QUEENS COUNTY, 1813. 



Families. 
51 



Success 

Oysterbay • 61 

Newtown 80 

Jamaica 107 



Communicants. Total, 

61 261 

50 315 

67 450 

56 550 



The salary of both pastors was made np by voluntary 
subscriptions. The Deacons went around to each house and 
collected in their respective districts. Most of these lists 
have been lost. We give one as a specimen of the rest. 

March, 1816 — Half year's salary for Schoonmaker and 
and Kuypers, jointly : 



£ 

Isaac and Jas. Lefferts 1 

Rem Snedeker 1 

Johannes Wyckoff 1 

Widow Mary Bennet 

Baniet Bennet 1 

Phebe Suydam 

Bamet V. Suydam 

Hendrick S. Lott 1 



Stephen Lott, Sr 1 



Peter Lott 

George Lott 

Nicholas Lott 

Johannes H. Eldert. 
Hendrick Emmons.. 

Luke Emmons 

James L. Rapelye. , 

Jacobus Ryder 

Henry PuUis 



6 

4 
12 
8 
6 
4 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



85 



£ s. 

Wm. Bennett (1809) 1 3 

Johannes S. Lott (1809) 1 5 

Widow Nelly Lott 1 6 

Garret Van Wlcklen 8 

Abm. Snedeker ...... 4 

Evert and -John V. Wicklen 4 

Wm. Raymond 4 

Stephen H. Lott 6 

Paul Duryea 6 

Abm. Duryea 2 

Abm. Hegeman 8 

St. W. Williamson 4 



Williamson Ryder 


6 


Theodorus Snedeker 


4 


James Cortelyou 


10 


Wm. Van Dine 


Ifi 


Wilhelmus Stoothoof 


16 


John Remsea 


2 


Peter Williamson (1817). . . . 


4 


Widow Cornelia Eldert(1809) 


8 


Widow Ida Stryker (1809) . . 


8 


Dow D. Duryea (1809) 


4 


Rulef Duryea (1809) 


12 


Richolas Ryder . . 


14 



1815, May 17. — Bernardus Lamberson, Nicholas Ryder, 
Hendrick Brinckerboff and Baruet Y. Siiydam, account to 
Jas. Hendricksou and Jas. Van Siclen and find £59, 19s. in 
the chest. 

1818, October 11. — Domine Froeligh preached at New- 
town. 

Received from the Jamaica Consistory, forty-five pounds, the full sum 
of a half year's salary, ending November 1, 1804; as witness my hand 
this second of November, 1804. 

Jacob Schoonmakek, V. D. M. 

Received from the Consistory of Jamaica, the sum of fifteen pounds 
in full, being my half year's salary. 

Zach. H. Kuypebs. 
Jamaica, April 21, 1818. 

1819, August 12. — Thursday was a Fast day on account of 
the drought. 

182]. — An auxiliary to the United Foreign Missionary 
Society was organized in the Eeformed Dutch Church on 
the evening of January 1, Its object was to civilize and 
evangelize our western Indians. 150 members were ob- 
tained. The officers from the Dutch congregation were : 
Eev. Jacob Schoon maker, President ; John Bennet, Vice- 
President ; Managers, Abm. and James Hendricksou, Johan- 
nes Lott. 

1820, May 27. -John Bennet, and Johannes H. Eldert, 
Aury Eemsen Jr. and George Johnson account to John 

22 



86 HISTORY OF THE 

Bergen, and Wilhelmus Stoothoff, aad find $129.62 ia the 
chest. 

STATE OF RELIGION AS REPORTED TO CLASSIS. 

1827, April 11. — In two sections of tlie congregation of Jamaica, tliere 
appears a considerable religious excitement, and an earnest seeking of 
the Lord. Their pastor, Rev. Jacob Schoonmaker, who has labored 
among them for nearly twenty-six years, feels his heart greatly encour- 
aged and his hands strengthened. For some time back prayer-meetings 
and lectures in the week have been thronged, and a good number seem 
deeply affected. The last Sabbath when the Lord's Supper was admin- 
istered the assembly was unusually large and solemn. Many appeared 
to be under great exercises of mind ; many tears of joy and of Godly 
sorrow were shed ; and there was an addition of ten members, making in 
the whole twenty-six, who have been admitted to the Church within a 
year. Not only have new subjects been awakened, but aged professors 
have experienced a new impulse in the Divine life, have had their 
strength renewed, and taken an active part in devotional exercises at 
prayer meetings." 

1825, Easter, April 3. — A dreadful storm, deep snow, 
cold. 

1825. — Simeon Marston, on the morning of April 12, fell 
down his well, accidentally, and instantly expired. 

INCORPORATION. 

1827, June 9. — The minister Jacob Schoonmaker, Hend'k 
S. Lott, Jas. Van Siclen, Jas. Hendrickson and John Ber- 
gen, elders ; Abiu. I. Hendrickson, Abrn. Hegeman, John A. 
Ditmars and John I. Bennet, deacons, of the Reformed 
Dutch Church, of Jamaica, do declare that we have this 
day assembled in our Church and do hereby certify that we 
and our successors in office (according to Act of Legislature 
of April 5, 1813) shall be known by the name of "The First 
Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica." — Queens County 
Records, W., p. 165. 

PARSONAGE SOLD TO THE PASTOR. 

1828, May 16.— For $2,500, Francis Duryea, President, 
and Abm. Remsen, Clerk, of the Consistory of Newtown ; 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 87 

and Jas. Hendrickson, President, and John A, Ditmars, 
Clerk of the Consistory of Jamaica conveyed seven acres of 
hind, being the parsonage, to Rev. Jacob Schoonmaker.* — 
Queens County Records, X., p. 162. 

1829, October 6.— The Church at Success (having twelve 
to twenty families) was disbanded by Chassis. The members 
residing at Hinsdale and Foster's Meadows joined the 
Church at Jamaica. 

1829. — General Synod unanimously appointed Thursday, 
January 22, as a day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, 
on account of the sin of intemperance ; and earnestly advise 
a total abstinence from the use of ardent spirits, except as a 
medicine. Ministers are requested, by example and pre- 
cept, to promote the cause of temperance by the formation 
of societies, or other measures adapted to that end. 

1829, June. — " A goodly number have been received in 
full communion, and considerable seriousness and seeking of 
God prevails." 

1831, July 15. — Timothy Rhodes and George I. Lott ac- 
counted to Theodorus Snedeker and John Simonson, and 
found in the chest $189.74. 1832, June 16,— They accounted 
to Luke Covert and John I Benuet, and found in the 
chest $6.26. 

1831, September 25— Dr. Schoonmaker preached for the 
last time in the old Church at Newtown, which was taken 
down October 4, and the new Church dedicated, July 29, 1832. 

1832. — -Thursday, July 26, was set apart by the Reformed 
Dutch and Episcopal Churches of Jamaica and Newtown, 
as a Fast day on account of the cholera in New York. 

1832, August 23. — Money and clothing to the amount of 
$150 was sent to the sufferers by cholera in New York, from 
the Dutch Reformed and Presbyterian Churches of Jamaica, 

* Mr. S-liooamaker gave a mortgage for $2 500, to be without interest as long as he 
was pastor of the two congregations. When the Classis released him from Newtown, in 

1850, that Consistory released to him their part of the mortgage. After his death, in 

1851, his executors paid $1,250 to the Jamaica Consistory. 



88 HISTORY OF THE 

Whole yearly expenses of the church : 1829, $28.G2 ; 1830, $44,84 ; 1831, 
$31.46; 1832, $38.32; 1835, $75.94; 1837, S75.60. 

BIOGKAPHY. 

Zacharias Hoffman Kuvpers ( or Cooper ) was born at 
Rhinebeck, February 19, 1771, and died, unmarried, October 
4, 1850. His father, Warmoldus, came from Holland to 
Curacoa and thence (about 1769) to New York. He had 
five sons, Elias, Gerardus, Zacharias, William and Peter, 
all ministers except Peter. Elias became an Episcopalian. 
Zacharias was probably educated at Hackensack Academy 
by Peter Wilson. It was intended he should reside in the 
eastern part of the county, but he preferred Jamaica, and at 
one time boarded with John Williamson.* He was fond of 
his pipe and entertained children with witch stories. From 
1797 to 1802 he was sole pastor of the four churches. When 
visiting the distant churches he usually set out from home 
with horse and sulkey on Friday or Saturday, and returned 
on Monday or Tuesday. On these occasions he availed 
himself of the hospitality of the people, and also made pas- 
toral visits. He was of a mild temper, unsuspicious, and 
lacked energy and worldly wisdom. He bought a farm at 
Jamaica which involved him in difficulties, and the Sheriff 
levied on his effects. In the pulpit he gave good sermons — 
his enemies said they were his father's. They were com- 
mitted to memory and his mind, absorbed in recalling the 
words, was not enough at leisure to give emphasis to them, 
so that his delivery was monotonous and mechanical. To 

* On April 17, 1810, Classis took notice of the low state of religion in IVIr. Cooper's con- 
• gregations at Wolver Hollow and Success. The people complained that the pastor did 
not catechise and make family and religious visitations, and only i^reached once a month. 
On hearing both parties {for one denied what the other aflirmed) Classis censured both 
pastor and people. — Minutes ofClasnis, p. 205- 30. 

1821, December 27. — At an extra session of Classis at Jamaica, charges were made 
against Mr. Kuypers : First— That he is not a man of veracity ; Second — Not honest in 
his dealings. The witnesses were Timothy Nostrand, Eliphalet Wickes and John Bergen. 
After hearing the evidence, Classi.i vote that the chirges are not substantiated, 
because : First— Not brought forward within the time prescribed by the Constitution ; 
Second — Not established by the mouth of two or tliree witnesses to the same fact. 

Cooper was dismissed from Newtown Aprils, 1822; from Jamaica and Oysterbay, 
April 13, 1821 ; from Success, April 12, 1825, and went to New Jersey. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 89 

prevent distraction of mind he fixed his eyes on some dis- 
tant object and allowed his arms to hang down bj his 
sides and thus stood almost motionless. In politics lie was 
a Federalist and had he acted in the Revolution would have 
been a Torj. On one occasion, just before the war of 1812 
he brought his politics into the pulpit and uttered his sen- 
timents on public afi'airs. Once, at Wolver Hollow, in wind- 
ing up his discourse he exclaimed " our blessed Federal 
Government." This was too much for the hot-headed Re- 
publicans to bear ; and one or two rose from their seats and 
left the Church. He was a great stickler for old usages and 
was opposed to Hopkinsianisra and all innovations. He 
used to saj : " if we begin to reform, where shall we stop ?" 
He spent his last days with a relative in New York. 

SUNDAY SCHOOL. 

The precise date of starting the Sunday school is not 
known. John Simonson with Miss Phebe Covert and others 
were the first teachers. The school was held in the old 
octagon church. 

The minute book begins July 10, 1831, with prayer by 
Rev. John Mulligan, Principal of Union Hall Academy, with 
7 male and 7 female teachers, 28 male and 22 female schol- 
ars ; and closed with singing. 

School was opened with prayer by the following among 
other persons : 

1831, July 17, by Elder Jas. Hendrickson. 
" July 24, by Rev. Mr. Schoonmaker.* 
" July 31, by Rev. Mr. Mulligan. 
" Aug. 7, by Rev. R. C. Sbimeall. 
" Aug. 14, by Mr. John Amberman. 
" Aug. 21, by Rev. Mr. Schoonmaker. 
" Aug. 28, by Mr. Richard L. Schoonmaker. 
" Oct. 9, by Mr. Jeremiah Fowler. 
" Dec. 4, Reading by Mr. Cornelius Amberman. 



* Dec. 25, 1831, the Pastor visited the school and examined the classes ; and again on 
Feb. 19, 1832. 



90 HISTORY OF THE 

1832, Jan. 15, Prayer by Mr. Isaac Siinonson. 

1833, Ap. 7, " by Mr. Johannes Lott. 
1833, Sep. 21, " by Mr. Elkanah Bartow. 

Isaac Siraonson seems to have become Superintendent, 
Dec. 16, 1832, when there were 7 teachers and 27 scholars 
in attendance, and 10 teachers and 86 scbohirs absent. 
Among other books Hellenbroek's Catechism was used. 
Simonson ended his services, Dec. 29, 1833, with 6 teachers 
and 15 scholars present. There are no further minutes of 
the school 'till June 15, 1834, when Henry Ooderdonk, Jr. 
acted as superintendent with 8 teachers and 34 scholars 
present. The school was held Sunday mornings before ser- 
vice, in the basement of the new church ; and the old octagon 
pulpit was removed and put up there. Aug. 3, 1834. — Dr. 
Schoonmaker addressed the scholars on the importance of 
religion and piety, hoped they would refrain from swearing 
and Sabbath-breaking. Oct. 5, 1834. — Mr. O. left, when 
there were 12 teachers and 57 scholars present and 6 teach- 
ers and 38 scholars absent. 

MONEY PAID OUT. 

1819, April 11.— Black Tom, for ringing the b«ll $ 3 00 

1821, Mar. i. —Wood, $3 ; Tom, for cutting it up, .62* 3 62 

" June 23. — Expense of Classis at Jamaica 6 30 

" July 8, Sunday. — Rev. P. H. Duryea, sermon 1 75 

" Dec. 12. — Abm. Hendrickson, load of wood 2 50 

1822, Jan. 15. — Expense of Classis at Jamaica 12 50 

" April 26. — Expenses of Synod and Classis 3 00 

" June 15. — Expenses of the parsonage 27 36 

" Nov. 17. — VVm. Puutine, 2 elbows for the stove 1 75 

" " 30. — Abm. Hendrickson, load of wood and cutting it. . . 3 50 

1824, May 10.— John Bennet, singing H 00 

" Oct. 21:. — Tom, for sanding the walk 38 

" — Fixing stove-pipe, and a ladder for the church. . . 3 71 

1825, May 3. — Tom, for scouring the collection plates 25 

" " — A necessary house 20 25 

" " — li gallons wine 1 50 

1826, April 17.— Wra. Smith, sand for tiie ciiurch. 05 

1827, April, — 1| bushels sand 23 

' ' June 30. — John Bergen, for a record book 2 25 

* In the winter of 1820-1, as I suppose, a stove was first set up in the church. 



'=^ 




REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, JAMAICA, 

Standing near the site of the first one. Corner stone laid July 4th, 1832; con- 
sumed by fire Nov. lilth, 1857. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 91 

1827, Nov. —Supplies to Domine Schoonmaker $ 4 50 

" — Jas. Hendrickson, for a seal 4 50 

—Paid Mr. Van Hook for his labor 100 

1829, Contribution to the Missionai-y Society of R. D. Church 14 22 

1830, Contribution to the Missionary Society of R. D. Church. . . . 10 00 
1834, May 5 and June 8. — Rev. G. J. Garretson, preaching 10 00 

" " 12. — Schoonmaker's expenses in exchanging with Gar- 
retson 4 00 

" Aug. 1. — John Rhodes, for making rings and staples 1 00 

" Dec. 10. — Richard Brush, for wood and coal 12 66 

1836, Nov. 26.— Broom, 1 lb. candles and sand in the church 58 

1837, April 8.— A broom, 1| bushels of sand 69 

1839, Oct. 15. — George Crane, sexton 15 00 

" Dec. 9. — Isaac Si'nonson, making a bier 10 00 

" " 15. — Justus Noll, making a pall 2 00 

1840, Feb. 6. —Squire Thos. Bradlee, singing 10 00 

1841, Jan. 2C.—Brush & Phraner, for candles 33 

Mar. 3-28 — " " oil and candles 143 

1842, Feb. 14.— Geo. Crane, for pine wood 4 00 

" Feb. 8. — Thos. Bradlee, repairing in.strument. 1 50 

" April — 1 lb. candles 15 

" Aug. 17. — Rev. J. Schoonmaker, for a church book 75 

Dec. 30. — Geo. Crane, for oil and wicks 1 12^ 

1843, May 21. — Geo. Crane, sawing cord nut wood 1 00 

1846, May 23.— J. A. Herriman, for carpet got in 1841 4 00 

1847, May 13. — Elias B. Hendrickson, sexton one year. 35 00 

" May 5. — Thos. Bradlee, chorister one year 30 00 

1832. — Notice. — We are requested to mention that the annual Fair of 
the "Fragment Society" of the R. D. Church, will take place April 9, at 
one o'clock in the afternoon, and continue in the evening, at the hotel of 
John Hunter. — L. I. Farmer. 

NOTICE TO BUILDERS. 

1832, Mar. 20. — Sealed proposals for building by contract, the ensuing 
summer, in the town of Jamaica, a frame church, 82 feet in length and 
62 feet in width, will be received by the Trustees of the First Reformed 
Dutch Church of Jamaica. Plan and specifications of the building may 
be known by applying to Mr. Crineyonce Sutphin, Jamaica, to whom 
proposals must he handed, on or before the 1st day of May ensuing. — 
L. I. Farmer, Ap. 5. 

CORNER STONE. 

1832. — On Wednesday, July 4th, the corner stone of a new Reformed 
Dutch Church was laid. The ceremony was attended by a very large con- 
course of people, who were addressed in a very appropriate manner by Dr. 



92 HISTOKY OF THE 

J. Janeway, of N. Y., and Dr. Jacob Schoonmaker, the pastor of the 
church. The ceremony of laying the corner stone was performed by 
Dr. Janeway, the introductory prayer was offered by the Rev. Eli Bald- 
win, D. D., and the concluding prayer by the Rev. Dr. Westbrook, both 
of N. Y. The age of the old church, which has been standing 117 years, 
and the growth of the congregation, render it necessary to erect a new 
building. The change will, however, no doubt occasion some regret, 
inasmuch as it will deprive our village of one of its most venerable and 
striking features. — L. I. Farmer. 

CONTENTS OF THE CORNER STONE. 

Besides the historical sketch, or memoranda of the church 
in the hand-writing of Dr. Schoonmaker, there were several 
numbers of the Christian Intelligencer, a copy of the Consti- 
tution of the Reformed Dutch Sunday School Union, a por- 
trait of Rev. Dr. Livingston, a copy of the Hellenbroek 
Catechism, and a copy of the Long Island Farmer. 

MEMORANDA 

Of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, (Long Island), made 

the 4th day of July, A. D., 1832, when the corner stone of the new or 

second Dutch Church was laid, viz : 

The First Reformed Dutch Church, in the town of Jamaica, Long 
Island, was built in the years 1715 and 1716, and cost about 360 pounds 
or 900 dollars. 

The first Trustees or Church Wardens were John Snedeker, George 
Remsen, Peter Monfort and Rem Remsen. 

The Ministers and the time of their settlement in said Church as 
Pastors were : 

Rev'd John Henry Goetschius in the year 1741. 

Rev'd Thomas Romeyn, " " 1752. 

Rev'd Hermanus L. Boelen " " 1766. 

Rev'd Solomon Froeligh, " " 1775. 

Rev'd Rynier Van Nest, " " 1785. 

Rev'd Zacharias H. Kuypers, " " 1794. 

Rev'd Jacob Schoonmaker, " " 1802. 

The first named minister who was the first settled Pastor of this Church, 
was the grandfather of the last by his mother's side. 

The present or second Dutch Church was built in the year of our 
Lord, 1832. 

The Cornerstone was laid on the 4th of July, 1832, by the Rev'd Jacob 
J. Janeway, D. D., who also delivered an eloquent address on the occa- 
sion. The Minister or Pastor is the Rev'd Jacob Schoonmaker, D. D., 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 93 

who also delivered an appropriate address on the occasion. The Elders 
and Deacons, being the Trustees, at present in office, are James Hen- 
drickson, Nicholas Ryder, Timothy Rhodes and George Johnson, Elders ; 
Luke Covert, John I. Beunet, Abm. Hegemau, Albert Amberman, 
Deacons. 

The Building Committee are Nicholas WyckoiT, Nicholas Williamson, 
Abm. Bergen, Crineyonce Sutphin, John Van Nostrand, James Van 
Siclen, Isaac Hendrickson and James Bogart. 

The Committee to superintend the building of the Church are James 
Hendrickson, George Johnson and Crineyonce Sutphin. 

The Builders are Charles Fosdick, Jeremiah Fowler, carpenters ; and 
Gasper Phraner, mason ; with whom the Trustees have convenanted to 
build the Church for the sum of 8,430 dollars; the builders to find all 
the materials and do all the work complete, and the congregatiorPto cart 
all the materials. 

The building is to be completed on or before the 15th day of Jan- 
uary, 1833. 

Jamaica, July -ith, 1832. 

Jacob Schoonmakee, 
Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Churches of 
Jamaica and Newtown, Long Lsland. 
Soli Deo Gloria. 

1833, Jan. 7, was a day of Fasting and Prayer, on account 
of the Act of Nullification passed by the State Convention 
of South Carolina. 

NOTICE OF DEDICATION. 

1833.— We understand that the Reformed Dutch Church will be dedi- 
cated to the Worship of Almighty God, on Thursdaj^ July 4th. The 
religious exercises will commence at 10 o'clock A. M. It is expected 
. that the Rev. Dr. Milledoler, President of Rutgers College, and Pro- 
fessor of Theology, will deliver the dedication sermon. As this solemn 
occasion will occur on the day sacred to American Independence, the 
friends of religion and of their country in this town and vicinity, are 
respectfully invited to attend. The community will probably remember 
that the corner stone of this .splendid church was laid on the last 4th of 
July, amidst a vast concourse of people, who manifested a deep interest 
in the solemn exercises on that occasion; and now that the top stone is 
about being laid, we pray with the Psalmist : "Peace be within its walls 
and prosperity within its palaces." — L. I. Farmer, July 3. 

The new Reformed Dutch Church was dedicated to the service of the 
Lord, according to previous notice, on the 4th of July. The spacious 



94 



HISTORY OF THE 



house was well filled, and an appropriate discourse was delivered by the 
Rev. Dr. Baldwin of N. Y., President Milledoler having been prevented 
from attending in consequence of an injury received a few days previous 
by falling into an open vault in the middle aisle of the North Dutch Church , 
N. Y. — Farmer, July 10. 

1833. — On Sunday, June 2, at 3 o'clock P. M., the Domiue 
preached the last sermon in the old Church, in Dutch, which 
few understood. Next day they began to take it down. 

The materials of the old church were sold in lots, at auc- 
tion, to the amount of $240. The communion table was 
bought by Johannes Lott. 

At the raising of the church a bountiful collation was 
served under a large tent by the wives of the congregation. 
As the timber was heavy the people had to assist the car- 
penters. The cost of the church was $8,442. 

At the dedication a collection of $55 was taken up. 

$106 was raised by the ladies of the congregation for 
dressing the pulpit and carpeting the altar. 

Pews were sold (July 20, at 3 P, M.) to the amount of 
$11,000 which covered the expense of building, and addi- 
tional land bought.* 

The folio pulpit Bible was the gift of Rev'd Wm. Luptou 
Johnson, Rector of the Episcopal Church, Jamaica. f 

The list of pew-holders begins from the pulpit : 



Nos. 1-7— $160 to $200. 

Deacons' Pew. 
E. \V. Van Voorhis. 
Henry Onderdonk, Jr. 
John C. Stoothoff. 
Margaret Adrain. 



Nos. 8-27— $85 to $12. 

Hendrick Van Wicklen. 



John D. Ditmis. 
Catalina Eldert. 
John N. Brinckerhoff. 
Nicholas Aniberman. 
George I. Lott. 
Waite S. Everit. 
Dow I. Ditmis. 
Willet Skidmore. 
John S. Lott. 



John Van Sieleu. 
John Hults. 
Alex'r Rogers. 
Henry Van Cott. 
Eldert Eldert. 
John Bennet, Jr. 
William Golder. 
Cor's Johnson Selover. 
Jacob Moi-rel. 



* 1832, May 24.— Nicholas Williamson and wife Cynthia, for $612, sell to the Church a 
parcel of land east of the old church, containing three roods, 1 and 7-10 of a perch 
bounded east by Henry Van Cott. — Queens Co. Recnrds, C. C.,p. 324. 

t David W. Wetmore gave $10 to buy 6 linden trees, which were set out (April 11, 1834.) 
by Domine Schoonmaker and Elias J. Hondrickaon along the front fence of the church. 
The western one of these and the Norway spruce trees in front of the church were so 
scorched by the fire of 1857 that they died. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



95 



Nathaniel Remsen. 



Nob. 46-29— |;120 to $20. 

Phebe Durj'ea. 
John I. Bennet. 
Mrs. John Bergen. 
Daniel Hendrickson, 
Jacobu.s Ryder. 
Adriana Lott. 
James Van Siclen. 
John Johnson. 
Aury Remsen. , 
N. Nostrand & S. Mills, 
William I. Furman, 
John Bennet, Sr. 
Isaac Simonson. 
Abm. Hendrickson. 
Bernardus Bennet. 
Nathaniel Nostrand. 
Peter Nostrand. 
No. 28, free. 



Hendrick Brinckerhoff. 
Joseph Skirm. 
Barnardus Bennet. 
George Stilwell. 
' No. 67, free. 



Nos. 48-66— $130 to $25. 

David Baiseley. 
James Bogart. 
John G. Fleet. 
Abm. Bergen. 
James Hendrickson. 
Peter & Ann Cortelyou. 
Aaron Durj'ea, 
Phebe Brinckerhoff. 
Golden Bartow. 
James Ditmars. 
Johannes Lott. 
Henry Mills. 
Rem Remsen. 
John B. Golder. 
MelanvCton Carpenter. 
Peter Bartow. 



Nos. 87-68— $130 to $25. 
Minister's pew. 
John A. Ditmars. 
Timothy Rhodes. 
William Seaman. 
Nicholas Williamson. 
John S. Lott. 
Abner Chichester, 
Richard Brush. 
Wilhelmina Lott. 
Rutgers Van Brunt. 
William Totten. 
John Van Nostrand. 
Theodorus Snedeker. 
Stephen H. Lott. 
Aui-y Remsen, Jr. 
John S. Van Nostrand. 
John Amberman. 
William Van Siclen. 
John Morrel. 
Nicholas Ryder. 
No. G8, free. 



Abm. D. Remsen. 
Benjamin Rhodes. 
Crinyonce Sutphin. 
William L. Hendrickson 
Mrs. Sarah Van Liew. 
Benjamin Hegeman. 
Albert A. AmVjerman. 
Michael Golder. 
Stephen Mills. 
No. 107, free. 



Nos. 88-106— $120 to $20. 

Johannes Lott. 
Derick Remsen. 
Peter Duryea. 
Oldfleld Bergen. 
Hend'k A. Hendrickson 
Abm. Hegeman. 
Stephen I. Lott. 
Luke S. Bergen. 
Derick Van Wicklen. 



Nos. 127-108— $85 to $12. 
William Stoothoff. 
Luke Covert. 
Abm. Amberman. 
John R. Snedeker. 
Luke Eldert. 
Jeromus Snedeker. 
John W. Messenger. 
Mrs. John Wyckoff. 
Nathaniel Nostrand. 
John Simonson. 
Robert Allen. 
Johannes Eldert. 
Henry Simonson, 
Isaac Snedeker. 
Morris Covert. 
John Rhodes. 
Cornelius Amberman. 
Jeffrey Smith. 
Tunis D. Covert. 
Stephen Henderson. 
John Van Siclen. 

Nos. 134-128— $160 to $200. 

Elders' pew. 
Nicholas Wyckoff. 
Jacob Schoonmaker. 
George Johnson. 
Phebe Hendrickson. 



1833, Sept. 4. — The Jamaica Bible Society met in the 
Church at 3 P. M. 

1834, July 5. — Abm. Hegeman, Albert A. Amberman, John 
Bennet and Abm. B. Hendrickson accounted to T. Snedeker 
and John AT. Stoothoff, $67.84 cents in the chest. 

1835. — On Tuesday, Jan. 6, the Rev. Garret J. Garretson 



96 HISTORY OF THE 

was installed, at Newtown as associate pastor with the Rev. 
Jacob Schoonraaker, D. D., of the united churches of Jamaica 
and Newtown. Sermon by Rev. M, W. D wight ; the install- 
ing service by Rev. Dr. Schoonmaker ; the charge to the 
pastor, by the Rev. Thos. M. Strong ; to the people by Rev. 
Jas. Demarest. Dr. Schoonmaker has been for many years 
past sole pastor of these united churches, and it is hoped 
that this connection now formed under highly favorable 
circumstances will be a source of many blessings. Jan. 10th, 
he gave his introductory sermon in the Jamaica Church. — 
Intelligencer. 

1835, Nov. 4. — The singing school of the Dutch Church is now in suc- 
cessful operation. There is, however, an opportunity for the enlistment 
of a few more pupils. 

1836, Feb. 10. — Sacred Music. — The closing performances of the school 
of singers, taught by Mr. John Murch, of Newtown, assisted by some 
members of the Jamaica Sacred Music Society, took place in Rev. Dr. 
Schoonmaker's church, yesterday afternoon, and evinced a constant 
improvement going on among us in this delightful science. — Farmer. 

1836. — July 4th was celebrated in the church. Wessell S. 
Smith was the reader, and John Mills the orator. Dr. 
Schoonmaker made the opening prayer, and the exercises 
were closed by Rev. Mr. Crane, with prayer and benedic- 
tion. The Choir sang the 712 and 930th hymn of the pres- 
ent Hymnal. 

1837, Jan. 8. — Rev. Geo. Bourne preached on " Popery." 

1838, May 20.— Rev. Dr. Browulee preached on "The 
Papacy." 

1838, June 8. — No preaching ; the church being cleaned. 

1839, Ap. 23. — John Amberman and Melancton Carpenter 
accounted to Isaac Simonson and Peter Lott, $115.62 in the 
chest. 

Sacred Music Society.— The regular meeting, the first Tuesday 
evening in April, the 7th, at 7 o'clock, at the house of Rev. Dr. Schoon- 
maker. Per order, 

N. W. CoNKLiN, Secrotar}'. 

Jamaica, March, 23, 1840. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 97 

1840, April 11. — George Johnson, an Elder, acknowledges 
the receipt of $50, being a legacy to the church from Abm. 
Hendrickson, of Blackstump. 

Newtown, Dec. 19, 1840. 
The Church at Jamaica to Mrs. C. Baylies Dr., for 4 years' accommo- 
dation* for Eev. Mr. Schoonmaker, at $5 per year, commencing Nov. 
1836. Received payment. Catharine Baylies. 

Painters ! Painters ! Notice. — Proposals will be received for paint- 
ing the Eeformed Dutch Church, in the village of Jamaica. The inside 
of the building to have one coat ; the roof one coat ; and the outside of 
the building two coats. The paint and oil to be furnished by the Con- 
sistory. It is to be divided into three parts : interior,— exterior with 
roof and steeple, — and blinds. Proposals for the workmanship of any or 
all of which, must be put in writing, and left with Richard Brush, pre- 
vious to Saturday, 23d inst., at which time the Consistory will meet to 
examine and decide with respect to them. The work to be done imme- 
diately, and in the best possible manner. Any further information may 
be obtained by calling on Mr. Brush. 

Jamaica, Oct. 19th, 1841. 

1841, Nov. 14 to 28. — Church being painted, inside and 
out, there was no preaching. 

QUADRAGENIAN ANNIVERSARY, 1842. 

On Feb. 15, at Jamaica, and 16th, at Newtown, the 40th 
year of Dr. Schoonmaker's ministry was commemorated in 
the churches by an historical address from the Kev. G. J. 
Garretson, which was afterwards printed.! 

1842.— State of Religion. — "Week-day evening lectures are given 
by the Pastor, in the basement of the church. Weekly prayer meetings 
are held in the four districts of the congregation. There are two Sab- 
bath schools connected with the Union of the Dutch Church, and three 
with the American Union. Many, we fear, neglect the religious duty of 
the family altar, and the aloset."— Minutes of Consistory. 

* The Consistory hired a room for their minister to sit in, rest and converse with 
them, before going into the church on Sundays. A decanter of liquor and glasses were 
kept in a closet for their mutual refreshment. 

t There were two other publications of Mr. Garretson, "The Christian Citizen," 1842. 
and a sermon on the death of A. S. Rapelye, 1847. 



98 HISTORY OF THE 

1842, July 2 i.— Afternoon, Rev. F. M. Noll preached * 

1842, Dec. 18.— Eev. Henry Heermance, as Tract Agent, 
preached. 

Donation. — The widow Elizabeth Hagner has presented to the Re- 
formed Dutch Church a valuable clock, which has been placed upon the 
interior of that noble edifice, upon which great improvements have re- 
cently been made. — L. I. Farmer, May 10, 1842. 

1842. — The fourth of July was celebrated on temperance 
principles. The order of exercises in the Reformed Dutch 
Church was as follows : 

Introductory music, — " Praise Ye Jehovah 1 " 

Prayer, by the Rev. Garret J. Garretson. 

Musical prayer for our country. 

Reading Declaration of Independence by H. O., Jr. 

Hymn, — " Columbia, Tune Thy Voice ! " 

Oration, by Wm. Betts, Esq. 

Closing Anthem, — " Salvation to Oar God." 

Prayer and Blessing, by the Rev. James M. Macdonald. 

About 200 ladies and gentlemen sat down to a dinner in 
the upper room of Union Hall Academy, with nought to 
promote hilarity but nature's beverage — sparkling, cold 
water. The Rev. Dr. Schoonmaker invoked the blessing ; 
and thanks were returned by the Rev. W. L. Johnson. The 
performances of the Sacred Music Society elicited the warm- 
est approbation. The Jamaica Volunteers made an impos- 
ing military appearance, and the Flushing Baud were much 
admired for their musical performances. 

1843, Feb. 5. — Stormy. Few people out. Dr. Schoon- 
maker gave a lecture, standing in the altar space. 

1843, June 20, Tuesday. — Classis met in church. t 
At a meeting of the inhabitants of the village of Jamaica 
to confer upon the expediency of sending delegates, to repre- 

* I prepared Mr. Noll for Princeton College. In 1844 he became an Episcopalian, and 
died on Ashwednesday, 1880, Rector of Caroline Church, Setauket, aged 69. 

t The Classis of Long Island was formed from that of New York, June 1, 1813 ; and was 
divided into the North and South Cla-ssis, Jan. 3, 1843. The North Classis was organized 
in the Jamaica Church, June 20. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 99 

sent this town at the National Sabbath Convention, to meet 
at Baltimore on Nov, 27, 1844, Doct. Nathan Shelton was 
called to the chair, and James H. Reeve appointed secre- 
tary. 

The following delegates were appointed to said convention, 
with power to fill vacancies : Kev. Jacob Schooumaker, D. D., 
Eev. Jas. M. Macdonald, Rev. Matthias E. Willing, and 
Messrs. Walter Nichols, James Rider, John French, James 
Ditmars, Jr., Laurens Reeve, James H. Reeve, Ab'm Smith, 
and Gilbert Sayres, Esq. 

Resolved, That the Rev. Messrs. Sayres, Macdonald, 
Schoonmaker, Johnson, and Willing be a committee to 
remonstrate with the Long Island Railroad Company, in 
relation to their Sunday train, and respectfully to urge the 
President and Directors of that Company, to discontinue 
the running of their cars on the Lord's Day ; and to solicit 
the inhabitants of the neighboring towns to co-operate with 
them in lending their influence to bring about this desired 
result. 

1844, May 13. — Jacobus Ryder and Nath'l Nostraud 
accounted to Nicholas Emmons and Abm. Ayres. $1.44 in 
the chest. 

Aletta Brinckerhoff by her will (dated 1842, and proved 
]846), gave $150 to the Consistory in trust, to be pat at 
interest, and the interest to be applied for the benefit of the 
Reformed Dutch Church at Jamaica. She also gave $50 to 
tbe church at Manhasset. 

1845. — The Reformed Dutch Churches have set apart Friday, Oct. 10, 
as a time for general fasting. Services in Dr. Schoonmaker's church, at 
lOi, forenoon. — L. I. Farmer. 

1846, Aug. 6 and 7. — A missionary convention was held 
in the church. Rev. Dr. Scudder addressed the youth. 

To THE Rev. Jacob Schoonmaker, D. D. : 

1846, June 16. — In the Board of Trustees of the Presbj'terian Church, 
Jamaica, it was Resolved, That this Board, in behalf of the congrega- 
tion, gratefully acknowledge the kindness of the Pastor and Consistory 



100 HISTORY OF THE 

of the Keformed Dutch Church, in inviting us to occupy their house of 
worsliip on a portion of the Lord's Day, during the time we have been 
engaged in making some alterations in our own place of worship ; and 
whilst we take this method of expi'essing our sincere thanks to our 
brethren, we would also improve the opportunity to express the hope 
that the present happy relations existing between the two congregations 
may be perpetual. 
Nicholas S. Everitt, Sec. Laxjkens Keeve, President. 

In the Fall of 1847, Mr. Garretson with Rev. Dr. Gordon 
travelled six weeks in the Western States, to see what open- 
ings there might be for establishing Dutch Churches there. 
Their report was favorable, but never acted on. 

1848, June 4. — Dr. Schoonmaker preached a Dutch ser- 
mon in Flatlands' Church, which was to be taken down. 

1849, June 18. — Rev. G. J. Garretson gave his reasons for, 
and offered his resignation to a joint meeting of the Consis- 
tories of Jamaica and Newtown, and desired them to unite 
with him in an application to Classis for a dismissal. The 
Consistories bore testimony to his constant and unwearied 
exertions to further the interests of religion among them, 
and discharge his duties as an ambassador of Christ, and 
pray God to bless him and his family with all temporal and 
spiritual blessiags.* 

Pakting Seevice. — The farewell discourse delivered at the Reformed 
Dutch Church by Rev. G. J. Garretson, on Sunday last, June 24, 1849, at 
the close of his ministry of nearly 18 years, is represented to us to have 
been deeply affecting to pastor and people. This highly gifted elergj'- 
man retires from his pastoral relation here with the best wishes of his 
flock at Jamaica, and we hope at Newtown also, for the success of his 
future labors wherever they may be hereafter rendered. — L. I. Farmer. 

1849, Aug. 4. — ^Pastoraij Connection Dissolved. — "The North 
Classis met at Newtown, to dissolve the i-elations of Rev. G. J. Garret- 
son to the Dutch Churches of Newtown and Jamaica. He has left, and 
settled at Lodi, on a salary of $700 and parsonage. We regret very 
much the removal of Mr. G.. who has been very successful in building 

* Garret J. Garretson was born near Somerville, N. J., 1808 ; graduated at Butger'a 
College, 1829, and at the Theological Seminary, 1832. He served at Stuyvesant 'till 1S34, 
when he was called to the churches of Newtown and Jamaica, as colleague of Dr. Schoon- 
malier. He was twice married, first to Ellen Van Liew and secondly (18,39) to Catharine 
Bapelye. 




5S^ . '^^a^^i^^^^^' ^V^^^^>^^^ 



(7~}\-y 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 101 

up the two churches, which form a collegiate charge. Before he settled 
over them, some 15 years ago, we understand they were both in a sad 
condition, from the fact that each had the service of one man only, once 
a fortnight, and that now thej- are very flourishing. This is no dispar- 
agement to Mr. G.'s venerable colleague, whose long continuance in the 
above charge is ipso facto the testimony of all that he can desire here 
below. But no church with Gabriel even for a preacher could be held 
together now, witli only one service in a fortniglit. Formerly religious 
privileges were circumscribed, now they are abundant. Mr. G. as an ac- 
ceptable minister has been duly appreciated, and his departure is much 
regretted. He has left with the affection of all his people clinging to him, 
and they know it never was misplaced. We hope he may be as useful 
and more happy in the charge to which he has been called." — Flushing 
Journal. 

Monumental inscription in the church-yard, Newtown : 

EEV. GARRET J. GARRETSON, 

pastor of this chukch 

during 15 years of his life. 

having kept the faith 

and finished his course, 

entered into the joy of his lord, 

Aug. 16, 1853, 

aged 45 years, 1 mo. 17 days. 

FOR HIM TO lilVE WAS CHRIST, TO DIE WAS GAIN. . 

1819, June 3 to 17. — "Our church being cleaned, we used the Presbyterian 
Church. After being cleaned it looked nice." M. 

1849, July 13. — "The young ladies form a Sewing Society to get an 
organ, in addition to other improvements. The young men are to get a 
carpet." M. 

1819. — Friday, Aug. 3, (on the recommendation of Presi- 
dent Taylor), was observed as a day of fasting, humiliation 
and prayer, on account of the fearful pestilence, the cholera, 
in New York. Services, at 10 A. M., were held in the 
churches, and all the stores closed. 

1849, Aug. 20. — "The ladies met to see about getting a new carpet for 
the church. Mrs. E. W. Van Voorhis, Misses Harriet K. Mills and M. E. 
Story, with Mr. John N. Brinclierhoff, went to New York and bought it." 

M. 

1849, Sept. 16. — On Sunday morning, five Indians, of two 
different tribes, attended church, viz : Black Hawk, son of 



102 HISTORY OF THE 

the famous Black Hawk, and two others of the Sac and 
Fox tribe, and Oceola and sister, of the Callapoohas tribe. 
Thej had been at school in Massachusetts, and were now 
lecturing on " Indian Customs" to raise means for further 
education, 

1849, July 5. — A committee of the two Consistories was 
appointed to wait on the Rev. Dr. Schoonraaker, and obtain 
his views on the present state of things, and receive from 
him a proposition, if he had any to make. Aug. 18. — The 
Consistory of Newtown agreed to give up their part of the 
mortgage on the parsonage, $1,250, and pay the Domine 
half salary for life. Sep. 10. — It was agreed that the 
churches of Newtown and Jamaica should separate. 

1849, Dec. 19, Wed. —The fair of the young ladies was 
held at Remsen & Hentz's hotel. We have the room for 
nothing, if we will pay for lighting it. It was open at 10 
A. M. Books, needlework and refreshments were on sale. 
From the net proceeds of this fair ($397.74) an vEolian Ser- 
aphine was bought, Dec. 26, for $300, and 170 allowed for 
the old instrument, net cost $218.50. 

EESIGNATION. 

1850, April 13. — Though Dr. Schoou maker had a host of 
friends, yet, perceiving that some of his people desired a 
change, he now being in his 73d year, prepared the way for 
settling a younger minister, by tendering his resignation, 
on condition that provision be made for his support during 
life. April 19, the congregation met in the church and 
agreed to allow him $150 per year during life ; but on July 
12, it was agreed to give him $750 outright. 

1850, July 13. — "AVe observed the funeral of President Taylor, who 
died, July 9, by the tolling of bells and shutting up of shops and stores, 
from 12 to 2, P. M., and displaying of black broadcloth, and Hags at half- 
mast."* 

* Gov. Fish, by proclamation, recommended the clergy and people of all denomina- 
tions, on the next day of public worshiii (J\ily 14), to unite in earnest invocation of the 
continued blessings of Divine Providence ujion our beloved country and its cherished 
institutions. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 103 

1850, July 22. — " Classis met at Newtown and separated Dr. Schoon- 
maker from the church. In a fortnight the congregation will meet to 
tax the pews to raise $700 or $800 salary for the new minister, and to 
appoint a committee of four persons to enquire who will do for candi- 
dates." M. 

The Classis made this entry in their minutes : 

"The Rev. Dr. Schoonmaker, with the concurrence of the Consistory, 
having applied to this Classis for a dissolution of the Pastoral connec- 
tion subsisting between himself and the Reformed Dutch Church of 
Jamaica. It was therefore, 

"Resolved, That the said application be granted. In doing which this 
Classis cannot refrain from expressing their high respect for the Eeverend 
Father who for nearly half a century, has borne the Pastoral oflfice with 
fidelity to his Master, and usefulness to the Church. And while the 
infirmities of growing aire advise his withdrawal from the active duties 
of the ministry, yet we trust he may long be permitted to see the fruit of 
his toils, in the spiritual enlargement of that vineyard, where the dew of 
his youth, the energies of manhood, and the councils of age, have been 
untiringly bestowed." 

1850, Aug. 4, Sunday. — Rev. Dr. Schoonmaker gave his 
farewell sermon at Jamaica, from Acts xs, 32 ; and admin- 
istered the communion, assisted by Rev. Dr. Broadhead. 

1850, Aug. 6. — The congregation met in church. Messrs. 
J. N. Brinckerhoff, Wm. Phraner and H. O., Jr. were ap- 
pointed a committee to look out for a minister whose salary 
was to be $1,000 per year. Nov. 18. — Rev. John B. Alliger, 
on the recommendation of the Committee, was called at 
$950 per year. He to find his own house till a parsonage 
be procured, and to preach twice each Lord's Day, and 
lecture once in the week at some designated place. The 
call was not to be presented to Classis till the congregation 
have heard him. 

1850, Dec. 2. — The congregation met in church at 4 P. M. 
and agreed to prosecute the call. 1851, Jan. 11. — It was 
agreed that the Pastor should preach mornings in the 
church and afternoons in the outskirts of the congregation, 
and give a week-day lecture. Apr. 28. — Agreed that a tax of 



10 J: HISTOEY OF THE ' 

10 per cent, be laid on private pews and 15 per cent, on 
those owned by the church. 

1850, Sept. 26. — Classis met in church. $14.50 was paid 
H. Pearsal] for their dinners. 

The young ladies of the Eefonned Dutch Cliurch, Jamaica, respect- 
fully give notice that they will hold their fair in this village, at Military 
Hall, on Thursday, Dec. 12th (Thaniisgiving Day), opening at 12 o'clock 
M., at which time and place the ladies will be most happy to see all their 
former patrons and friends. The proceeds of the fair are designed for 
the improvement of the music of the church. 

Jamaica, Nov. 26, 1850. 

The fair was highly successful, and realized nearly $400, clear gain, 
toward the purchase of an organ. Now then, let them have another fair 
for chandeliers and lamps, and the thing will be done up completely. — 
L. I. Farmer, Dec. 17. 

1850, Dec. 1, Sunday. — "Eev. J. B. Alliger* preached for us in the morn- 
ing and gave general satisfaction. In the afternoon he preached at 
Henry Story's and in the evening at Stephen H. Lott's, the former in the 
eastern part of the congregation, and the latter in the western. On 
Monday, P. M., the people met in the church and unanimously confirmed 
the action of the Consistory in calling him. Classis will meet on Friday 
week, at Jamaica, to approve the call." 

1850, Dec. 25. — " Dull Christmas, Mr. Alliger moves here to-day. He 
stays all night at Mr. J. N. Brinekerhoff's. He has a number of things 
put in his house, f — butter, tea, sugar, coffee, coal and wood. The young 
ladies of the Sewing Society (formed July 13, 1849,) met yesterday to see 
about buying an organ to impi'ove our music." M. 

1851, Wednesday. — New Year's service in the church at 
lOi A. M. 

1851, Jan. 14. — "Doraine Sehoonmaker luxd a large donation party, 
realizing over $300 in cash. Last Sundaj^ afternoon, Mr. Alliger preached 
at Springfield." 

Installation.— On Tuesday morning last (Jan. 7, 1851), the Eev. 
Mr. Alliger was duly installed into his office as Pastor of the Eeformed 
Dutch Church, in presence of a very large and attentive audience, com- 
posed not only of the congregation steadily worshipping there, but of 



* John B. Alliger graduated at Rutgers College, 183.5, and at the Theological Seminary, 
1840. He served at the Clove 1840-1;J, and at Shawangunk 1843-50, when he was called 
to Jamaica. Alliger is a Dutch corruption of the English name Alger. 

t Mr. Ainslee's house (now Beuardus Hendricksou's) was hired till a new parsonage 
was built. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 105 

many from sister churches, who embraced this very appropriate occasion 
to testify the interest and liindly feelings they cherished for the prosper- 
ity and future usefulness of this ancient church. The order of exercises 
was as follows : 

1. Prayer by the Rev. John W. 'St'ard, of Greenpoint. 

2. Anthem, sung by the choir from the 52d Chapter of Isaiah, 7 to 10th 
verses inclusive : 

" How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth 
good tidings, that publisheth peace: that bringeth good tidings of good, 
that publisheth salvation : that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth." 

3. Prayer by the Rev. Talbot W. Chambers, of New York. 

4. Singing of 154:th Hymn, 2d book : 

" Let Zion's Watchmen all awake." 

5. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Jacob Broadhead of Brooklyn. 

G. Installation of the Pastor by the Rev. Dr. Schoonmaker, late the 
Pastor. 

7. Charge to the Pastor by the Rev. E. S. Porter, of Williamsburgh. 

8. Charge to the Congregation by Rev. Thomas C. Strong, of Newtown, 
President of Classis. 

9. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Porter. 

10. Singing of 153d Hymn of 2d book : 

" Come as a Shepherd; guard and keep," — 

11. Apostolic Benediction by the Pastor, the Rev John B. Alliger. — 
L. I. Farmer. 

1851, Apr. 30. — "They are fixing the gallery in the church for the 
organ. It is to be up next Sunday, (May 4,) and a gentleman from the 
city is to be up to play on it." M. 

May 1, 1851, Henry Erben sold the church a second hand 
organ of 20 stops, two sets of keys and pedals, for $1,200 ; 
and allowed $350 for the melodeon. 

1851, March 27. — George Crane, formerly sexton of the 
church, died suddenly, of congestion of the brain, at the 
Head-of-the-Fly,* Flushing, aged 53. 

1851, Aug. 25. — John A. King asked the use of the church 
for the Queens County Agricultural Society's address. On 
Oct. 2, at 12 o'clock, the church was completely filled, there 
being present not less than 1,500 persons, including every 
leading and influential man in the county, and many ladies. 
A voluntary on the organ, by Miss M. E. Brinckerhofi", 

* Fly is the Dutch word for meadow or marsh. 



106 HISTORY OF THE 

opened the proceedings, followed by a prayer and thanks- 
giving from Rev. Dr. Goldsmith, to the Sovereign of the 
universe, whose gracious providence fertilizes the earth. An 
anthem and ode were sung by Thos. Bradlee and the choir. 
At the close of the address by Gen. John A. Dis, the tlianks 
of the Society were tendered to the choir, and to the Consis- 
tory for the use of the church. — iV. Y. Times. 

The ladies of the Sewing Society had a fair and festival, 
in Union Hall Academy, on the same day with the Agricul- 
tural Fair, to raise money to pay for the new organ. $603 
was taken in, being a net profit of $383. 

1851, Oct. 27. — A collection is to be taken up in church in 
aid of the Sunday School. $76.50 was paid for $8,000 in- 
surance on the church and $1,000 on the organ. 

1851, Nov. 27. — Thanksgiving service in the church. 

1852. Jan. 18.— "Eode to church in a sleigh, 25 persons (including 
three girls) present. In the evening a drifting snow, and the therniome- 
tor at 10". Though the bells rung there was no service in the other 
churches." M. 

1852, Jan. 30. — "They now have Tuesday evening prayer meetings at 
private houses ; and if they come well attended the Thursday evening 
lectures will be given up. M. 

1852, March 4. — "At the Doniine's donation party, Thursday, Messrs. 
Lowerre and Van Voorhis, each gave a $20 gold piece, and Mr. Gor's 
Amberman, three old silver dollars. He also received a pair of gold 
glasses from Mrs. J. N. B., some silver forks and $230 in money, and 
other articles." M. 

1852, Apr. 11. — Collection in church to pay off incidental 
expenses. 

1852, July 4, Sunday morning. — Rev. P. D. Williamson 
gave his farewell sermon, before leaving for California. 

1852, Nov. 29. — "The Consistory intend to extend out the 
gallery four feet so as to allow the singers to stand before 
the organ. The front will go outside the stovepipe.*" M. 

* There were 3 stoves in church, two at the entrance doors aud one by the pulpit. The 
drippings from the pipe soiled the carpet in the middle aisle. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 107 

1852, Nov. 25.— Thanksgiving Day, the Jamaica Branch 
Bible Society held its 36th anniversary in the church. 

1852.— Died at his residence on Sat. Apr. 10, after a sliort illness, Rev. 
Jacob Schoonmaker, D. D., in the 75th year of his age. The friends of 
the family, and the public generally, are respectfully invited to attend 
his funeral at his late residence, Tuesday afternoon, at one o'clock, and 
at the Reformed Dutch Church, at half-past one. 

The funeral of the Rev. Dr. Schoonmaker, on the 13th inst., was very 
numerously attended, notwithstanding the unfavorable state of the 
weather. After a brief prayer at the house of the deceased, by the Rev. 
Dr. Strong, of Flatbush, the procession commenced moving to the church 
about two o'clock, in the following order: 

Officiating Clergy. 

Attending Physicians. 

BIER, 

"With the Rev. Drs. Goldsmith, Strong and Campbell, Messrs. Sayres, 

Elmendorf, P. N. Strong, Williamson and Matideville. 

as Pall Bearers. 

Family and Relatives of the Deceased. 

The Consistory of the Churches of Jamaica and Newtown. 

The Rev'd the Clergy. 

The Trustees and Principal of Union Hall Academy. 

Citizens generally. 

The church (pulpit and organ) was hung in black in respect to the 
memory of the late pastor, and as the procession entered, a dirge was ap- 
propriately played on the organ. The multitude, who had assembled to 
testify their affection and pay the last tribute of respect to the memory 
of the departed, was so great as to fill the church to its utmost capacity. 
A great number could obtain no seats. 
■ The exercises at the Church were then commenced with reading part 
of the 11th Chapter of Hebrews, by the Rev. Mr. AUiger, the Pastor. 

Prayer by the Rev. Thomas C. Strong, of Newtown. 

Singing by the choir, "How blest the Righteous, when he dies." 

Obituary sketch of the life and services of the deceased, by the Rev. 
Mr. AUiger. 

An impressive discourse, by the Rev. Dr. Marselus, from Hebrews, 
xi. 1.3: "These all deid in faith, etc." 

Concluding prayer by the Rev. Professor Campbell of the Theological 
Seminary. 

Hymn by the choir: "Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb." 

The audience were then invited to take a last look at the deceased, 
whose countenance was truly calm and placid in death. He was laid out 
in bands and gown. And so great was the throng at the coffin (which was 



108 HISTORY OF THE 

placed immediately in front of the pulpit) that over an hour was con- 
sumed in this mournful ceremony. Although the day was showerj' j-etit 
fortunately abated, both at the time of the moving of the procession to 
the church and to the village cemetery, where the remains were depos- 
ited in the family vault. After which solemnity the spectators were dis*- 
missed with the Divine Benediction by the Rev. Mr. Elmendorf, of 
Bedford.— 2y. I. Farmer, Apr. 27, 1852. 

At a meeting of the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Grace Church, 
Jamaica, held at the church, on the 13th day of April, 1852, it was unan- 
imously 

Resolved, That this Vestry has heard with grief and deep regret the 
painful intelligence of the death of Rev. Jacob Schoonmalier, D. D., for 
halt a century the clergyman of the Reformed Dutch Church, in this 
village, whose life and services have been a practical example of the 
great and salutary influences of the virtues, piety and charity, which 
should ever adorn the eharacter.of a Minister of the Churcli of Christ. 
And that we deeply and truly sympatliize with his afflicted family in this 
their great bereavement. And that a copy of this resolution be transmit- 
ted to them by the Clerk of the Vestry. 

Testimonials of respect and condolence were also sent 
to the family from the trustees of Union Hall Academy. 

Jacob Schoonmaker was born at Aquackanonck, N. J., 
May 11, 1777. He was prepared for Columbia College at 
the Hackeusack Academy. He graduated Aug. 7, 1799, 
when he delivered an oration in St. Paul's Church, on " Im- 
prisonment for Debt." He studied for the ministry under 
Froeligh. He died of typhoid pneumonia brought on by a 
cold caught at a funeral. On the day before his death the 
Rev. Wm. L. Johnson, D. D., called to see him, and kneel- 
ing at the bedside made an appropriate prayer, which the 
old Domine repeated after him word by word. He then 
gradually became less sensible to external objects. Among 
his last broken sentences were : " I have fought the good 
fight, I have finished my course." His breathing soon 
grew fainter and fainter, till he expired without a struggle 
or a groan. 

In the course of his ministry he had married 700 couples. 

1813, Apr. 23, he wrote a recommendation for a new edi- 
tion of the Hellenbroek Catechism which he himself used in 
his classes on Saturday afternoons in the old church. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 109 

1815, Aug. 1, at the formation of the Long Island Bible 
Society, he was one of a committee to solicit subscriptions. 

1817, May 20, he was president of the newly established 
Female Academy, under the care of Mrs. E. Bartlette and 
Miss Laura Barnum. 

1820, July 12, as president he made the prayer at the 
laying of the corner-stone of the new Union Hall Academy. 

1824, June 3, he was vice-president of the Jamaica Auxil- 
iary Society for Meliorating the condition of the Jews. 

1829, June 3, as president of General Synod he preached 
a sermon in the North Church, N. Y., from Romans, i: 16. 

1831. — He received the degree of S. T. D., from Dickinson 
College. 

He wore bands {hefjes) from the first. After a while the 
ladies gave him a gown. Before ascending the pulpit he 
paused at the foot of the stairs, covered his face with his hat 
and made a short silent prayer. 

His salary was small.* He eked it out by taking boarders 
for the Academy. His people were also considerate. His 
wood was carted and he had many presents — a bag of wheat, 
a ham, a pot of butter, a load of hay, &c. During his visits, 
especially in killing-time, many a piece of meat was quietly 
put in his carriage. He and his wife had a happy knack at 
making their wants known. 

He bought land of Mrs. Stewart and became a thrifty 
farmer. At his death his personal property was appraised 
at $6,630.12, and his farm of over sixteen acres, subject to a 
mortgage of $1,000, was sold, in 1852, to Dr. M. J. Bailey, 
for $8,000. 

In politics he was anti-federal. He made no pretensions 
to much learning, but by his courteous manners and modest 
bearing, he passed off well in the best society. He wrote 
two pieces for the Dutch Church Magazine. 

He made the formal visitations, and held the service 
(anciently called sermon of repentance), preparatory to the 

* At a meeting of the two Consistories at Newtown, 1816, Apr. 8, it was agreed to make 
an addition to his salary. 



110 



HISTORY OF THE 



Communion, on Fridays, which was changed to Saturdays, 
in Mr. AUiger's time. 

The expenses of Dr. Schoonmaker's funeral were assumed 
and paid by his friends, as follows : 



Theodorus Snedeker $ 5 00 

Stephen N. Lott 3 00 

Dow S. Lott 2 00 

Peter Lott 1 00 

Johns. Lott 1 00 

Wm. Stoothoff 1 00 

Abm. Hegeman 1 00 

Henry Drew . . 1 00 

Ditmars Stoothoff 1 00 

Geo. Rhodes 5 00 

John V. Nostrand 3 00 

John S. V. Nostrand 3 00 

John R. Bennett 1 00 

Jacob M. Duryea 2 00 

Jas. Lott 50 

Martin R. V. Siclen. 50 

Stephen H. Lott 1 00 

Henry S. Lott 1 00 

Garret V. Wicklen 1 00 



Nath'l Nostrand $ 33 

Renisen Bennett 50 

John S. Snedeker 2 00 

Mary Snedeker 1 00 

John B. Golder 1 00 

Wm. H. Furman 1 00 

Henry Story 5 00 

Nicholas Williamson. 3 00 

John Spader 5 00 

John N. Brinckerhoff 2 00 

Henry Mills 1 00 

Phebe Covert 1 00 

Margaret Adrain 2 00 

Elias Heudriekson 1 00 

Isaac Aniberman 1 00 

Richard Brush 16 75 

Wm. Phrarier 16 75 

James S. Remsen 5 00 



Inscription on a mural tablet in the church at Newtown : 

"Mark the perfect man, and behold the 
upright: for the end of that man is peace." 

Ps. 37 : 37. 

IN MEMORY OF 

JACOB SCHOONMAKER, D. D., 

who for the unusual period of 48 years 

faithfully labored 

in the pastorate of this church. 

by his consistent piety, his wisdom in council 

and his devotion as a friend, 

he won the high esteem 

and unshaken confrden(:;e of both the 

church and the world. 

Born, May 11, 1777. 

Died, April 10, 1852. 



It is said Domine Schoon maker was the first to introduce 
funeral services in the congregation, in compliance with the 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



HI 



recommendation of Sjnod in 1812, that there be a sermon 
and Scripture lessons read, or, at least, a prayer and ben- 
ediction at the grave. In early times Synod disapproved of 
rehgious ceremonies at burials as superstitious. At funerals 
the people either quietly took seats in the house, or stood 
conversing in groups outside. Wine was passed in-doors 
and a bottle of spirits out of doors. There being no min- 
ister or sexton, a certain responsibility and gravity rested 
on the company. A neighbor brought up his clean farm 
wagon, wdth straw on the bottom. The pine, cherry or 
black-waluut coffin was solemnly lifted by friends into the 
wagon and, covered with a blanket or bed-coverlet, was 
slowly driven to the grave where it was let down and the 
earth shovelled in by the friends. A plentiful repast was 
usually provided for friends who came from a distance.* 

1852, May 3. — "Our church has been cleaned for summer, and the 
mourning removed. The subscription for the parsonage goes on very 
brislily. Eev. N. E. Smith preached for us, Sunday afternoon." 

M. 

1852, May 21. — "The Dutch people seem very busy talking about a 
parsonage. They have spoken of a number of places, but they don't 
seem to suit. Tunis Van Brunt has offered a lot by his house ; some 
think of the land next the church commencing with Mr. Hendry's shop 
and ending with Smelt's store. Some like 0. P. Leech's house, at $5,500 ; 
some, Wm. J. Cogswell's, $6,000; some. Judge Henry Hagner's, $5,000 ; 
some, a lot opposite the old parsonage, $1,000; some, Dr. ^. Shelton's; 
some, six lots on Union Hall street, e.ist of the Academy, at $1,200. 
Nov. 29. — The Consistory met but could not fix on a site for the present." 

M. 

1852, July 20. — Wm. Phraner was appointed treasurer. 

1852, Nov. 8. — Ferdinand S. Snedeker appointed sexton 
at $32.50 per year. 



■ The items of expenditure for Dr. Schoonmaker's funeral were : 



45 yds, linen $22 50 

8 yds. ribbon 72 

20 yds. black ribbon 1 80 

8 black Italian cravats 7 33 

3 pair silk gloves 1 56 

Use of alapaca and linen 2 0) 

Mahogany coffin 28 00 

Silver i^late 8 00 

Over-coffin 5 00 



Shroud 3 50 

Making 13 scarfs 1 63 

Tolling bell of three churches 3 00 

Opening vault, &c 4 00 

Carriage hire 8 50 

Other expenses 4 05 



Total. $101 59 



112 



HISTORY OF THE 



1853, May 7. — John 0. Metcalf appointed chorister at 
per year. 



1853, May 25.— John A. King and wife Mary, for $2,330, sold the 
church, land for the present pai"sonage, 102 feet front and nearly 497 feet 
deep, containing one and 165-1000 acres. — Queens County Records, 109: 9. 

Here follows a list of contributors : 



Hi. Brush $ 100 00 

Wm. Phraner 100 00 

Dan. Hendrickson 100 00 

Theod's. Snedeker 100 00 

Isaac Simonson 

John Rhodes 



10 00 

25 00 

BenJ. Hegeman 40 00 

Ann. Bergen 20 00 

Jno. N. Brinckerhoff 5 00 

St. Henderson 3 00 

Jas. A. Herri man 15 00 

Geo. Rhodes 100 00 

Sam. W. Lowerre 100 00 

Jno. A. King. 100 00 

David Baiseley 50 00 

Geo. C. McKee 5 00 

Ann E. V. Nuyse 15 00 

Jno. T. Waters 5 00 



Isaac Amber man 5 00 

Hend'k Hendrickson 3 00 

Jas. A. Fleury 25 00 

From Sohoonmaker's Mort- 
gage 1,000 00 

Jno. Spader 100 00 

Henry Story 100 00 

Tunis V. Brunt 100 00 

Jno. V. Nostrand 20 00 

Hend'k Suydani 50 00 

David Bergen 5 00 

Daniel S. Waters 3 00 

Margaret Powell 6 00 

Abm. Brinckerhoff 3 00 

Jas. S. Remsen 20 00 



$2,333 00 



1853, Nov. 23. — " They are now collecting money for the 
new parsonage house which is just raised. $800 to be paid 
when raised ; $800 when enclosed ; $800 when walled ; and 
final payment when the house is finished. It is a two-story 
double house, with two-story kitchen. It will cost about 
$6,500. It is a large but not showy house. Mr. John 
Spader is going around for the subscriptions, but some hold 
out and don't pay."* M. 

1853, Nov. 17. — "Mr. Metcalf is not coming up this winter to sing. 
Abm. Duryea is to lead the singing hereafter." M. 

1853, Nov. 24. — Thanksgiving service in church. 

1854, Jan. 7. — A Sewing Society was formed. 



* Paid by outsiders, towards the parsonage : Cornelius Duryea, $25 ; Abm. D. Sneil- 
eker, $5 ; Albert Priest, $20 ; Christian G. Gunther, $20. 



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FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 118 

1854, Jan. 29.— A Youth's Missionary Society of .the Re- 
formed Datch Church was formed, and a Constitution printed. 
The members were to meet the second Sabbath of each 
month, and pay not less than 12 cents yearly. 

1854, Feb. 14. — The congregation present a silver pitcher 
and salver to Miss Mary E. Brinckerhoff, in recognition 
of her gratuitous services as organist. 

185-1, Feb. 14. — Donation party. "Tlie Domine had a good turnout, 
considering the weather. House comfortably filled $200 received." 

M. 

1854, Feb. 22.— Washington's birthday. The first notable 
marriage in the church was that of Wm. F. Story and Mary E. 
Brinckerhoff. Pedro A. Andreu played on the organ. Messrs. 
C. Baylis and Randall were groomsmen and Misses Lib. 
Willets and Julia Ludlow, bridesmaids, who all proceeded 
directly to the railing, in front of the pulpit, where stood the 
celebrant, Rev. E. P. Stimpsou with Rev. Mr. Alliger beside 
him. After the ceremony the party returned to their coaches 
at the west side of the church, a carpet being laid from the 
door to the carriages. 

1854, Apr. 1, Sunday. — Rev. Dr. Baird, Secretary of the 
Evangelical Union, preached morning and afternoon. 

1854, Apr. IG.— "A tedious, dull Sunday, no church at night, and but 
few out in the morning." M. 

1854, Apr. 19. — Classis met in church, discussed and nega- 
tived the change of name of the church by omission of the 
word "Dutch." 

1854. — Frida}', May 26, was a Fastday to supplicate 
Almighty God to avert the evils that now threaten this nation 
by reason of a Bill in Congress allowing slavery in the 
Nebraska Territory .'- 

1854, July 31. — The pastor's salary, from July 1, is to be 
$1,000 with the parsonage. 

* The Kansas-Nebraska Bill (repealing the Missouri compromise) was passed, May 31. 



114 HISTORY OF THE 

1854, Sept. 28. — At the Queens Countj Fair, C. Lyon 
gave the address ia the church. Voluntary on the organ by 
Jos. T. Duryea, invocation by Rev. P. D. Oakey, singing by 
the choir. The audience were dismissed with the benedic- 
tion. — L. I. Farmer. 

1854, Oct. 22, Sunday. — Mr. AUiger gave a sermon on the 
" Arctic," and the previous Providences of God in our Con- 
gregation," to a very full church. He was (by direction) to 
preach on the increase of ministers' salaries. 

1854, Nov. 30. — Thaidisgiving day. A very full church. 
Union meeting of Methodists, Presbyterians and Dutch. 
Mr. Seaman made the long prayer, Mr. Oakey preached on 
the duty of American citizens, and Mr. Huntting made the 
last prayer. 

1854:, Nov. 1-i. — $5 reward will be paid to anj- person giving informa- 
tion tiiat will lead to the conviction of the pei-son that broke the glass of 
the circular window in rear of the lieforiued Dutch Church, 
Bj' order of Consistorj-, 

Wm. Phkanek. 

1854. — The taxes on the parsonage, assessed at $3,500, 
were $24.44, viz : 30 cts. on $100, for town, &c.; 272 ^ts. for 
school, and 9 cts. for the village. ' 

1855, Jan. 16. — " Robert Adrain will go 'round the village to try to get 
money to buy a parlor carpet for the parsonage." M. 

1855, Feb. 2. — "The Doniine had a party last night; a great crowd; 
Mr. King and daughter there. Some of all denominations thei'e. Laurens 
Reeve, G-ilbert Sayres, Dr. Kissam and wife, and son George, Judge 
Fosdick, Jos. T. Duryea, Ac." M. 

1855, Mar. 28. — The funeral of the County Clerk, Martin I. Johnson, at 
2 P. M., was the largest assemblage of persons ever gathered together in 
this village, on a similar occasion. The church seats 750 persons, and 
judging from the number standing, the audience could not have been 
less than 1,000. As a mark of respect to the deceased, all places of 
business were closed, from 1 o'clock till after the burial. The family 
and relations of the deceased, accompanied by the clergy and pre- 

* The Arctic collided (Sep. 27,) with the Vesta, in a fog, on the banks of Newfoundland, 
and went to the bottom. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 115 

ceded by the Firemen, went in procession to the church. The services 
were conducted and an address delivered by the Eev. Mr. Alliger, assisted 
by the Rev. Dr.. Johnson, of the Episcopal, and Eev. Mr. Seaman, of 
the Methodist Church. — L. I. Farmer. 

1855, Apr. 9. — Tlie Pastor is to have an eye on Brush- 
ville. A Sabbath School should be started there to secure 
so important a neighborhood for a Reformed Dutch Church. 

1855, .June 29, Friday. — All the Sunday Schools of the Dutch Reformed 
and Presbyterian Churches had their excursion to St. Ronan's Well, 
together. . The line of about 65 vehicle-s tilled, some with 30 persons 
each, presented a fine spectacle. At the grove, after a sumptuous enter- 
tainment, the children were pleasantly addressed by Messrs. Pardee and 
Bissell. At 4J P. M. the party of about 1,OUO persons left the grounds. — 
L. I. Farmer. 

1855, July 10. — A subscription paper to give the pastor 
$200, additional salary. Was circulated. 

1855. — Tbe use of the church for celebrating the Fourth of 
July was refused. 

1855. — On Sunday, Sept. 30, there was no service in church. 
A fire broke out at 9.30, A. M., in the barn of Jas. R. Hendry, 
which, with his blacksmith shop, was consumed. Loss, 
$2,000, and np insurance. 

Ihoo, Nov. 8. — The Long Island Bible Society met in the church, at 
2 P. M. The members of the choirs of the different churches led by Abm. 
Durj-ea, conductel the music. — L. I. Farmer. 

1855, Nov. 18. — Collection for lamps, $41.55. M. 

1855, Dec. 31. — "The lamps are up in the church and look very fine 
indeed. They were repaired at a cost of $40." M. 

1856, April 1. — Paid for chandeliers, $60, and hanging 
them $26.75. Collection for chandeliers, &c., $126.77. 

185G, July 4. — The teachers and children of the Sunday School of the 
First Reformed Dutch Church, held a fair and festival in the afternoon 
and evening, which was the great attraction of the day. The room (lately 
occupied by F. G. Crossman, opposite John A. King's,) was crowded until 
10 o'clock at night. The receipts were quite equal to the expectation of 
the managers, and we are requested to thank the liberal of their own 



116 HISTORY OF THE 

congregation ami those of the other congregations who eontrIbut(^d so 
cheerfully, of refreshments and money, to assist a good cause and encour- 
age the children, who were more immediately interested in the Fair.— 
L. I. Farmer. 

1856, July 19 — Old silver taken from old alms chest was 
sold for 37 cents. 

1856, Aug. 21, Thursday. —The annual excursion of the 
Reformed Dutcli and Presbyterian Sunday Schools was to 
St. Ronau's "Well. Sixty-four wagons were stowed with 
old and young. In the grove, at half-past ten, the tables 
were set with towers of biscuits, ham, sandwiches, pies and 
cakes. After the repast the company dispersed, some to 
drink the water of the well, others to promenade on the hill- 
side, or bridges, some to read under the shady trees, others 
to gather into little companies and talk on all sorts of sub- 
jects. At half-past one, on the signal for reassembling, the 
great hall was full, 700 awaited the exercises, songs, addresses, 
&c., till 4 o'clock, when they were on their way to Jamaica. 

1856, Oct. 15, Wednesday evening. — The anniversary of the Jamaica 
Bible Society was held in the church. Rev. T. L. Cuyler and others 
addressed the meeting. — L. I. Farmer. 

1856, Dec. 31. — The Reformed Dutch Church will be open 
for worship, on New Year's eve, at 6.3 o'clock. 

1857, Apr. 2. — Most of the pew-holders request Consistory 
to have the church painted and fences repaired, and assess 
cost on the pews. 

1857, May 28, Thursday.— Jos. T. Daryea delivered a 
lecture, in the church, on " The Philosophy and Claims of 
Sacred Music." 

1857, June 24. — "They are now painting the church steeple. The tvvo 
south windows, beside the pulpit, were walled up." " Nov. 5. — they are 
putting a furnace in the basement of the church, and the old stoves are 
to be sold." M. 

1857.— The Congregation of the Et^formod Dutch Church will, by invi- 
tation, occupy the Presbyterian Church for Divine worsliip on the morn- 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 117 

mg of the first and third Sabbaths of July, and thereafter alternate Sab- 
baths, till the repairing and painting of their church be completed.— 
L. I. Farmer. 

1857.— On Sunday last, Aug. 30, the Eeformed Dutch Church, of 
Jamaica, was opened for Divine worship after being closed several weeks 
for repairs, and it is a model of what a church sliould be ; and reflects great 
credit on those who had the management of the renovation. It is hand- 
somely painted within and without, the fences renewed, and the path 
and walks graded. Among the interior changes may be mentioned the 
introduction of gas with most beautiful fixtures, the graining of the pews 
pulpit and organ, the painting of the walls and ceiling by a new and very 
effective process, in winch the art of perspective has been successfully 
applied. The closed pulpit has been replaced by an open platform, and as 
appendages to it on either side are tablets painted on the wall containing 
in gilt letters, the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, and the Ten Com- 
mandments.* The circumstances under which the congregation assem- 
bled suggested the following text: "The glory of Lebanon shall come 
unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify 
the place of my sanctuary' ; and I will make the place of my feet glori- 
ous," which was happily illustrated by the pastor to a numerous audi- 
ence. — L. I. Farmer. 

1857, Oct. 4. — Services changed from afternoon to evening. 

1857, Oct. 7. — Classis met in church. Dr. Porter preached 
at lO.j A. M. Religious services in the evening. The pub- 
lic were invited to attend. Addresses bj members of Classis. 

THE FIRE. 

On last Thursdaj- night, Nov. 19, about 7 o'clock, an alarm of fire was 
given, and it was soon ascertained that the carriage manufactory of Mr. 
J. E. Hendry, standing west of the Reformed Dutch Church, was in 
flames. The wind blew a gale from the south-west, carrying the sparks 
and cinders across Gov. King's lots, lying just opposite, and causing 
some apprehension lest the Episcopal Church might be endangered. 
Just before the coach factory fell, and while the fire was at its height, 
the wind suddenly veered to the west and carried the burning cinders in 
showei'S upon the roof of the Dutch Church. In less than thirty minutes 
the large and beautiful building was consumed. Two of our citizens 
deserve an honorable mention in connection with the efforts made to 
rescue the church, Messrs. Edward Hendrickson, and Foster Van Wick- 
len. At the risk of their own lives they ran from place to place upon 

* The cost of these was $100. Within a modest shield, underneath, was inscribed : 
"Presented by His Excellency, John A. King, LL. D., Governor of the State, 1857." 



118 HISTORY OF THE 

the roof, succeeded several times in putting out the fire spreading under- 
neath the shingles, dried and warped, and therefore exceedingly com- 
bustible. The efforts of the engine companies were at first crippled for 
want of water, and when, afterwards, water was obtained the hose was 
maliciously cut in several places by parties upon whose character and 
conduct we dare not allow ourselves to comment. The suppl}' of water 
from the line' formed through the building was inadeq^iate, and at last 
could not be applied at the point of danger, as the cornice in front, which 
finally took fire was entirely out of reach. Almost all the movable arti- 
cles were removed from the building without suffering damage. The fire 
extended west to the corner of Church street— burning "Rotten Eow," 
and the dwelling and grocery of Mr. Hendry. 

The buildings, (5 in number) which stood between Mr. Hendry's shop 
and dwelling, belonged to John McGrath. They were insured for their 
worth, $2,000. Mr. Hendry was insured on both buildings, about $2,000, 
two-thirds of their value. Mr. Hendry saved most of his furniture, but 
in a damaged state. The Eeformed Dutch Church was insured for 
$6,000, about one-iialf its value. The organ was insured for $1,000, it 
was valued at $1,500. It was consumed with the building. In all, at 
different times, there were 20 buildings on fire, and had it not been for 
a dash of rain about the time the church was burning, the extent of the 
disaster would have been beyond calculation. Two of the Flushing fire 
companies came to the assistance of their brethren of Jamaica, and have 
the gratitude and good wishes of tlie whole commuiut3'. 

The prevailing impression is that tlie fire was tlie work of an incen- 
diary. * 

The loss of the church has been indeed a sore trial, unch^r circum- 
stances peculiarly disheartening. The building had just been repaired 
and painted. The walls were most tastefully frescoed, the pulpit had 
been improved in design and convenience, a chaste and exceedinglv 
beautiful design in recess behind the pulpit gave completeness and finish 
to the decoration of the interior. The organ, a noble instrument, had 
just been grained anew and put in perfect order. A furnace had been 
placed in the basement, and on the very day of the calamity Messrs. 
Brush and Phraner had finished the last piece of work necessary to the 
full completion of the improvement on the building. Over $3,000 had 
been expended, and many weeks of individual labor. In a half-liour all 
this was destroyed. — L. I. Farmer, Nov. 24, 1857. 

1857, Nov. 22, Sunday. — "This afternoon Mr. Alliger mot with his 
people in the Presbyterian Church, for the first time since the fire, and 

* At a public meeting, held on Saturday evening, Nov. 21, the trustees of the village 
were authorized to offer $200 reward, for the detection of the incendiary, and $200 for 
the discovery of the demon in human shape, who secretly and maliciously cut the hose 
of both engines, when the firemen had almost arrested the flames, a crime more startling 
and fieudlike, if possible, than that of the incendiary. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 119 

it was a solemn time. AH felt and some said : 'Our holy and our beau- 
tiful house, where our fathers praised Thee, is burned up with fire; 
aud all our pleasant things are laid waste.' The Domine was assisted by 
Eev Baynard R. Hall, who read the 64th Chap, of Isaiah, and preached 
from Hebrews 12 : 6, 7, 8 : ' For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,' 
&e. He said whether the Are came by accident, or the torch of an incen- 
diary, it did not alter its being a chastisement from the Almighty. Next 
Saturday afternoon a prayer meeting of the whole congregation is ap- 
pointed to be held in the Methodist church ; and on the following Mon- 
day a meeting will be held of the Congregation, in the Academy, to con- 
sult upon some measures for rebuilding." M. 

At a special meeting of the Vestry of Grace Church, 
.TaQiaica, Nov. 23, 1857, the following preamble and resolu- 
tions were unanimously adopted : 

Whereas, the congregation of the Reformed Dutch Church in this 
village has been deprived of the use of their house of worship by a dis- 
astrous conflagration ; 

Resolved, That vve deeply sympathize with them in this severe dispen- 
sation of an over-ruling Providence. 

Resolved, That the use of this church be tendered to that congregation, 
to be occupied on Sunday afternoons, at such hours as may be most 
convenient to them. 

Resolved, That seats be provided for members of that congregation 
who may wish to attend our regular services. 

Jeremiah Vai/Entine, Clerk. 

1857, Nov. 27. — At a special meeting of the Consistory, at 
the parsonage, it was resolved that the male members of the 
congregation be invited to meet with the trustees, on Monday, 
Dec. 7, at 2 P. M., in the lecture room of Union Hall Acad- 
emy, for the purpose of advising and assisting the trustees 
to adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary to re- 
build their church edifice. 

1857, Nov. 27. — The congregation are to meet, Sundays, 
at 2 P. M.,in the Presbyterian Church. Dec. 5, Saturday. — 
The congregation (and professors of religion especially) are 
to meet in the Methodist Church, for prayer to the Great 
Head of the Church, that he would guide, comfort and bless 
his people. 

1857, Dec. 28. — At a meeting of Consistory, it was resolved 
that their most grateful thanks are due to the trustees of the 



120 HISTORY OF THE 

Presbyterian Church, to the Vestry of Grace Chureli, and 
to the Wardens of the Methodist Episco-pal Charch, for their 
fraternal and christian courtesy and kindness in tendering 
the use of their churches to the congregation of the Reformed 
Dutch Church of Jamaica, who in the Providence of God 
have been deprived of their place of worship by fire. 

1858, Jan. — Summary of the indebtedness of the church, 
presented to the meeting in the Academy : 

Cost of parsonage lot $2,330 00 

House and fence 4,923 37 

$7,253 37 
Paid on account of parsonage : 

Subscriptions $3,957 75 

Schoonmalcer's mortgage , 1,250 00 

$5,207 75 

Total debt on account of parsonage. . . . $2,045 62 



Debts of tlie congregation : 

On general account S 485 64 

Painting the church , 1,537 94 

Parsonage debt 2 045 62 

Total debt $4,069 20 

Unpaid pew rents, for salary $638 70 

" Assessments for painting , ... 313 75 

Making fence for i-ailroad and Hendry 54 28 

$1,006 73 

1858, Jan. 4, Monday.—" They decided by a vote of 28 to 24 to build 
the church on the old site." Feb. 12. — " I fear that the church will be 
built on the old site, as about $300 more is subscribed in favor of that 
site." "I feel that all hopes of getting the church in a more central 
place, is about lost." M. 

1858, Jan. 14. — Paid Howard Pearsall, for dinner to 
Classis, $20. 

1858, Jan. 15. — The vote on salary of the pastor, as per 
resolution of July 31, 1854, raising it from $800 to $1,000, 
was rescinded. 



FIKST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 121 

1858, Feb. 1. — A motion of Theodoras Snedeker, seconded 
by Daniel Hendrickson, to build the church on the old site 
was lost. Agreed that subscription papers for either site be 
circulated. Daniel Hendrickson is to ask legal advice ; and 
reports ( Feb. 15,) that the old site may be sold if no remon- 
strance be made.'* The subscription papers came in with 
a large amount for the old site. Feb. 22. — The Consistory 
conclude to build on the old site.f 

1858. — At a meeting of the Consistory of the Refornaed Dutch Church 
Jamaica, held on Monday, Feb. 22, a resolution was passed to build a 
lecture room in Union avenue, 30 bj' 60 feet. The lecture room is to be 
built immediately for the congregation to worship in until a new church 
is erected. Messrs. Richard Brush, John T. Waters, Isaac Araberman, 
J. N. Brinckerhoff, and S. L. Spader are the Committee appointed for 
that purpose. J — L. I. Farmer, Mar. 2, '58. 

1858. — Religious Revival. — The Reformed Dutch people, being for 
the present without a place of worship hold meetings at private houses, 
at which the attendance is increasing. On Tuesday evening, at Mrs. 
"Wm. L. Hendrickson's, SpringHeld ; Wednesday, at Richard Brush's; 
Friday, at Mrs. Jas. A. Fleury's.— L. /. Farmer, Mar. 23. 

1858, Mar. 31. — Fastday. Great awakening. Union meet- 
ing in Methodist Church. Abm. D. Snedeker and Rev'ds 
Alliger and Oakey spoke. 

The burning of the church at Jamaica was the occasion 
of starting two other enterprises, one in the eastern, and the_ 
other in the western part of this extended congregation 
Their history is briefly as follows : 

1858, April 18. — A church was organized at Queens. The corner-stone 
of the new building was laid by Dr. Creed, September 28, 1858, and the 
church was dedioatt^d in a most solemn and inapressive manner. May 8, 
1859, by Dr. A. R. Van Nest, who gave a most eloquent discourse from 

p 

* See deed for this land on page 15 of this book. 

t July 22, H. C, Jr., sent in his protest against building on the old site : First — As not 
being central. Second— As surrounded by taverns ; and Third— the annoyances of Sunday 
and railroad travel. 

X 1858, July 20.— .John A. King, Richard Brush and Michael P. Holland, for $400, sell to 
the Reformed Dutch Church, two lots on Union Avenue, 50 feet front and nearly 128 fee* 
deep. — Queens County Records, Vol. 174, p. U2. 

S. J. Young conlractod to build the Consistory room for |1,412.15. 



122 HISTOEY OF THE 

Lev. 26 : 2 : "Eeverence mj' Sanctuary." The same day, by a generous 
donation from D. F. Manice, the church debt was extinguished. Oct. 
18. — Stephen H. Lott, George Johnson, Abm. Smith and others requested 
a dismissal in order to form a church at Woodhaven, which was organ- 
ized Nov. 8, consisting of seventeen members; but was, after a while, 
disbanded by Classis. 

.1858, May 20. — $100 was paid for a melodeon for the Sunday School. 

1858, May 30, Sunday. — The Consistory room was opened for worship. 
The room is large and pleasant. The congregation will worship there 
till the church edifice is ei-ected, plans for which are now di-awing by a 
sliillful ai'chitect. 

1858, July 31. — Sidney J. Youug contracted to build the 
church for $11,477. Kichard Brush, Wm. Phraner, John 
Spader, Isaac Ambermau, David Baiseley,* Theodorus Sned- 
eker, Daniel Hendrickson were appointed a committee to 
complete the contract and superintend the building. 

1858, Aug. 3. — The congregation have agreed on a plan 
for a church edifice, and the building will be commenced 
immediately. It is to be of brick and well finished. It is 
to be enclosed before Nov. 1, and completed by Feb. 1, 1859. 

1858, Aug. 17.— The Dutch, Presbyterian and Methodist 
Sunday schools (including the rural schools of the three con- 
gregations) united in a picnic to St. Ronan's Well. The farm- 
ers came in their market wagons (130) and filled them with the 
teachers and children. Rev. Messrs. Van Buren, Alligey and 
Oakey and Henry Hagner addressed the children. t 

LAYING THE CORNEE STONE OF THE CHURCH. 

This interesting ceremony took place on Tuesday, Sept. 1-1, in pres- 
ence of a large gathering of people. The exercist^s commenced with an 
appropriate prayer by the Rev. P. D. Oakey of the Presbyterian Church, 
which was followed by singing. Rev. ^tr. Mandeville, of Flushing, then 
read a history of the church, w ritten by H. O., Jr; The Rev. Mr. Alliger. 

* In March, 1858, some bones of a mastodon were dug up in Baiseley's mill pond. In 
July, another skeleton was found in Springfield Creek, said to be 30 feet long. One 
tooth (black) weighed 3?^ lbs. being five inches in diameter and 17 inches round. It had 
four prongs, the longest, 6X, inches. The crown had six projections. — N. Y. Evening Pott. 

t Expenses of Union Picnic : toll on bridge, $7.44 ; ou plank road, $20 ; grove, $16 ; 
and other expenses equal to $114.34. 




REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, JAMAICA, 

Built of bric'^ and roofed with slate. Corner stone laid Sexjt. 11th, 
1858 ; church dedicated Oct. 6, 1859. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 123 

Pastor of the church, then came forward with the box to be deposited, 
and stated the contents to be : 

1. The articles found in the corner stone of the church recently 
destroyed, such as the Magazine of Reformed Dutch Church, Christian 
Intelligencer, Episcopal Recorder, portrait of Rev. Dr. Livingston, Hellen- 
broek Catechism, memorandum of the church, ministers, building com- 
mittee, builders, Consistory', &c., &c. 

2. A Bible, presented in behalf of the Long Island Bible Society, by 
the treasurer. 

3. Psalm Book, gift of Isaac Rapelye. 

4. Constitution of the Church. 

5. Portrait of Rev. Dr. Schoonmaker, gift of William Phraner. 

6. Portrait of Rev. J. B. Alliger, gift of Wm. T. Brush. 

7. Portrait of His Excellency John A. King, LL. D., Governor of the 
State. 

8. Drawing of the octagon church built, 1715, gift of Henry Onder- 
douk, Jr. 

9. Drawing of the eluirch recently destroyed. 

10. Section of Atlantic cable, gift of R. L. Meeks. 

11. Circular of the male and female departments of Union Hall Acad- 
emy, with names of its officers, teachers and pupils. 

12. Piece of the timber of the church built in 1715, gift of Richard 
Brush. 

13. List of church officers. 

14. List of all thn churches in the village, and their pastors. 

15. Village Charter and list of the Corporation. 

16. Lithograph, and report of Public School. 

17. Historical sketch of the church, as prepared by Heniy Onderdonk, Jr. 

18. Village Papers — L. I. Farmer, L. I. Democrat. 

19. Christian Intelligencer, and the New York daily Tribune, Times, Sun, 
News and Express, of September 14. 

The box was then, by Richard Brush, one of the building committee, 
deposited "in thenameof theTriune God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, 
to whom be all the praise." 

Rev. Messrs. Cuyler and Van Zandt then addressed the assembly' in 
terms suited to the occasion. 

The Rev. J. M. Huntting made the closing prayer, when after singing 
the Doxology, the congregation was dismissed by Rev. J. W. Bouton. 

The church will be ninety by sixty feet, built of brick and fire-proof, 
and will cost, when completed, nearly $15,000. The builders are Mr. 
Sidney J. Young, carpenter, and Mr. Anders Peterson, mason. The 
names of the building committee are Messrs. Richard Brush, John Spader, 
Daniel Hendrickson, William Phraner, Theodorus Snedeker, Isaac Amber- 
man, David Baiseley and John N. Brinckerhoff.— L. I. Farmer, Sep.21,1858. 



124 HISTORY OF THE 

1859, Jan. 2, Sunday. — Jos. T. Dnryea gave a sermon in 
the Consistory room to the youth of Jamaica. 

1859, June 29. — Union prayer meetings were held from 
church to church. Sep. 28 and Nov. 30 they met in the Con- 
sistory room, at 7 o'clock in the evening. 

1859, July. — The baptismal basin, now in use, was pre- 
sented to the church by James Augustus Herriman. 

1859 to 1863, the Consistory room was used for lectures in 
aid of the Jamaica Circulating Library. 

On the completion of the church the following circular 
with a diagram of the pews, was sent to the members : 

Dear Sir: — The new edifice, erected for the use of the congregation of 
the Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, will be dedicated (D. V.) to the 
service of Almighty God, on Thursday morning, Oct. 6, 1859, at 11 o'clock. 
Sermon by the Rev. Thos. E. Vermilye, D. D.,* of the Collegiate Re- 
formed Dutch Church, of the City of New York. 

The pews of said church will be sold by auction, on Wednesday, Oct. 
12, between the hours of 2 and 5, in the afternoon. 
Yours, &c., 

Isaac Ambekman, See. 

Jamaica, Sept. 27, 1859. 

DEDICATION. 

The interesting ceremony of dedicating a house of worship to the ser- 
vice of Almighty God took place in this village, on Thursday last, Oct. 6. 
The new church edifice, erected for the use of the congregation of the 
First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, Rev. J. B. AUiger, Pastor, is 
located upon the site of the old edifice, that was destroyed by fire on the 
evening of Nov. 19, 1857. The corner-stone of the new church was laid 
on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1858, and in about one year tht^re- 
after the building is completed, and consecrated to the service of the 
Triune God. This is an elegant and imposing edifice, built of brick, 
sixty by ninety feet, and cost complete about $20,000. It is certainly 
one of the finest churches on Long Island, and there are not many, even 
in the City of Brooklyn, to excel it in outward appearance and internal 
convenience, neatness and beauty. The entrance is by a spacious vesti- 
bule, from which are doors and passageways leading to the gallery, and 

* Dr. Vermilye was greatly pleased at the attention of the audience, and said he had 
never been better listened to. At the close of the services of dedication, and before the 
collection was taken up. Mr. AUiger requested uouo to leave the church, except such as 
did not intend to contribute. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 125 

to the audience room, the floor of which measures seventy-five by fifty- 
five feet. It affords us pleasure to say that most of the work was done 
by Jamaica meclianics. The architect and builder, Sidney J. Young; 
the mason work, by Anders Peterson; the painting, by Silas Carman ; 
the upholstery (cushions), by Th. Hoffstater; the gas-fitting, by Jas. T. 
Lewis, all of Jamaica. • 

The walls are beautifully and tastefully painted in fresco, by J. Stanly 
D'Orsay, of New York. The elegant gas fixtures were made at the man- 
ufactory of Messrs. Donaldson, New York. The organ, which is pro- 
nounced by good judges, to be of superior tone and power, is from the 
manufactory of that prince of organ builders, Henry Erben, of New York. 

The building was completed, in all its appointments, about one week 
since, and was dedicated on Thursday last. On this occasion it was 
filled to its utmost capacity, there being about 1,000 persons within its 
walls. The services were exceedingly interesting, and the large congre- 
gation present seemed to be highly pleased. The clergy present were 
Ktivs. Messrs. Alliger, Ten Eyck, Elmendorf, Hammond, West, Vermilye, 
Demarest, and Himrod, of the Dutch Church ; P. D. Oakey and W. Piira- 
ner, of the Pn-sbyterian Church; Wm. L. Johnson, D. D., of the Epis- 
copal Church ; J. D. Bouton, of the Methodist Church. 

The opening Scriptures were read by the Kev. Wm. H. Ten Eyck, of 
Astoria. The prayer before the sermon was made by the Rev. Wilson 
Phraner, of Sing Sing, N. Y. An eloquent and appropriate sermon by the 
Rev. Thomas E. Vermilye, D. D., of the Collegiate Reformed Dutch 
Church, of New York, who also dedicated the building, the whole con- 
gregation standing. The concluding prayer by the Rev. A. Elmendorf, 
of Brooklyn, and the benediction by the Rev. Wm. L. Johnson, D. D., 
Rector of Grace Church, Jamaica.* 

The choir of the church added to the interest of the occasion by their 
singing, which was in good taste and well executed, Geo. C. Kissam, 
M. D., and Benj. Duryea, presiding at the organ. 

The church was open in the evening of the same day, and the Rev. N. 
E. Smith, of Brooklyn, preached to a large and interested audience. 

On Sunday, the largest congregation that has met for nearly two years, 
the first regular exercises took place, and the Pastor, Rev. J. B. Alliger, 
gave a very impressive discourse, and made many touching allusions to 
the particular circumstances of the church. The Rev. Mr. Spies, of 
Milwaukee, preached on Sabbath evening. His sermon was one of great 
e^ccelloiice and power. Notice was given that the church would be open for 
Divine worship on successive Sabbath evenings, and that other ministers 
of disinction would preach ; services commencing at 7 o'clock. — L. I. 
Farmer, Oct. 11, 1859. 

1859, Oct. 19, Sunday.— "The Domine at his first service in the new 
church made his hymns, prayers and sermon appropriate to the occasion. 

* 1859, Oct. 6. — Collection at dedication, morning and evening, $271.66. 



126 



HISTORY OF THE 



His text was from Ezra 5:3: "Who hath commanded you to build this 
house, and to malce up this wall ?" He waa at times quite overcome ; 
especially when he prayed for all the building committee to be united to 
the visible church, and that the young might succeed to the places of 
their fathers. Mr. AUiger concluded to have evening services on Sun- 
days and to invite prominent preachers fiiom abroad to officiate. This 
increased the attendance." M 

1859, Sep. 28, Oct. 19, Nov. 30. — Union prayer meetings 
in the Consistory room, at 7 P. M. 

Purchasers of pews,* Oct. 12, 1859. $12,230. 



Nicholas Amberman. 
Isaac Amberman, 
Cornelius Amberman. 
John D. Amberman. 
John H. Bailey. 
David Baiseley. 
Eemsen Bennet. 
George Bennet. 
Eldert Bei'gen. 
John D. Bergen. 
Jacob Boerum. 
John N. Brinckerhoff. 
Geo. L. Brinckerhoff. 
Eichard Brush. 
Phebe Burnet. 
Morris Covert, 
John Covert. 
Phebe Covert. 
John and Andrew De 

Bevoise. 
James D. Ditmars. 
Martin I. Duryea, 
Samuel Eldert. 
James A. Fleury. 



Ludlum Fre<ierick. 
William H. Furman. 
Mai'ia Hegeman. 
Daniel Hendrickson. 
Abm. A. Hendrickson 
Abm. B. Hendrickson 
Hend'k A. Hendrickson 
Elias B. Hendrickson. 
Maria Hendrickson. 
James A. Herriman. 
Maria Johnson. 
Hendrick Lott. 
James Lott. 
James Lott, Fl. 
John S. Lott. 
Stephen N. Lott. 
John B. Lott. 
Willenipie Lott. 
Nicholas Ludlum. 
Stephen Mills. 
John M. Niles. 
Nathaniel Nostrand. 
Elizabeth Onderdonk. 
Howard Pearsall. 



William Phraner. 
A. Jane Powell. 
Harvey Powell. 
Rem Eemsen. 
John Eemsen. 
John Ehodes. 
Stephen Eyder. 
John Eyder. 
Mary Simonson. 
William Siney. 
Priscilla Smith. 
Theodoras Snedeker. 
John Si^ader. 
Ditmars Stoothoff. 
William C. Stoothoff. 
Daniel E. Suydam. 
George Suydam. 
John S. Van Nostrand. 
Phebe and Mary Van 

Nostrand. 
Ann E. Van Nuyse. 
Daniel S. Waters. 
John T. Waters. 
Sidney J. Young. 



Pews were rented as follows. A star is affixed to the 
names of those persons who afterwards became purchasers. 



John Amberman. 
John T. Areson. 
Luke Bergen.* 



Z. M. P. Black. 
Eichard Busteed. 
Conklin Carll. 



Colyer. 

John Covert.* 
Abm. De Bevoise.* 



* Where there was no competition the pews sold mostly at their valuation. Geo. Ben- 
net, L. Frederick, J. Van Nostraud, and George Suydam. each paid a premium of $10; 
E. Bergen, $15 ; D. R. Suydam, |B0 ; and N. Ludlum, $46. The total amount of sales 
was $12,230. Tho pewB not sold wore offered to be rented. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



127 



Aaron A. Degrauw.* 
States Edwards.* 
Nicholas K. Eldert. 
Daniel K. Folk. 
Thomas H. Frederick.'* 
Phebe Hagner* 
Anna M. Ham. 
Charles H. Harris.^' 
Henry Hatteau. 
Hend'k Hendrickson. 
John and Abm. Hend- 
rickson. 
John Hunt 



Eliza Johnson. 
Mrs. Keeler. 
Sarah K. King. 
John G. Lamberson. 
James T. Lewis. 
George Miller. 
Elizabeth Monfort. 
Mrs. Mount. 
Mrs. Mower. 
John E. Nostrand. 
Elijah H. Nostrand. 
George L. Powell.* 
James Rogers. 



Joseph O. Skillraan.* 
Daniel Snedeker. 
John I. Sneiieker. 
Harvey G. Spalding. 
A. M. G. Stevens. 
Sarah Stoothoff. 
Albert Stoothoff.* 
William Stoothoff. 
Mrs. Stoutenburgh. 
Mrs. Swezey. 
Martin Vandergaw. 
Annie M. Van Zandt. 
Thomas WooUey. 



1859, Nov. 24. — Thanksgiving was observed in church. 
The Methodists and Presbyterians joined with us. 

1860, Feb. 1. — A union prayer meeting in the Consistory 
room. 

•i860, Feb. 5, Sunday night. — Eev. Dr. Scudder preached 
on missions. $80 collected. 

1860, March. 17. — An association of ladies was formed to 
raise a fund for educating a divinity student, and to distri- 
bute tracts in Jamaica. The members were to meet and 
pay ten cents monthly. 

1860, Apr. 19, and May 17. — Musical concert in Consis- 
tory room, by Professor Bauscher, teacher in the Female 
Seminary. 

1860, Aug. 14.— Consistory agreed to add $200 to Mr. 
Alliger's salary. 

I860, Aug. 16.— Nearly 100 wagons, after a parade through the main 
street, accompanied by a brass band from Brookljm, set out, about 
9 o'clock, for a picnic to St. Eonan's Well, Flushing. There were near 
1,000 persons on the ground. The children, led by J. Henrie Young, 
chorister of the church, sang sweetly, Messrs. Taylor and Sprague, from 
New York, gave entertaining addresses. The repast was bounteous. 
Wm. C. Hendrickson and Jas. D. Ditmars were marshels of the day. 
The pastor of the church conducted the exercises on the grounds. The 
whole cost of the excursion was $120. 

1860, Oct. 12.— Classis met in church. 

I860. — Fair and festival, Christmas Eve, afternoon and 
evening, by the ladies, in the Consistory room, for the ben- 



128 HISTORY OF THE 

efit of the church. A great variety of useful articles, includ- 
ing books, choice confectionery, and substantial refresh- 
ments. $408.27 realized. 

1861. — About 3 o'clock, on New Year's morning, an alarm 
of fire was sounded. Grace Church (which had been re- 
paired at a cost of $3,500) had caught fire from the flues of 
the furnace and was entirely consumed. The Episcopalians 
accepted the ofifer of the use of the Consistory room for pub- 
lic worship. They put a railing around the pulpit so as to 
administer the Lord's Supper conveniently. They had no 
need of Christmas greens, for it had already been festooned 
when we had our fair there. 

1861, Jan. 4. — The National Fast Day of humiliation and 
prayer, in view of the distracted and dangerous condition of 
our country, appointed by President Buchanan and Gov- 
ernor Morgan, was agreed, by the Jamaica Christian Union;* 
to be held in the Reformed Dutch Church. The stores and 
principal places of business were closed during the time of 
religious service, and the church was well filled. Rev. Messrs. 
AUiger, Oakey, Henson and Huntting took part in the services . 

"Friday was very generally observed as a day of fasting and prayer. 
Our church was crowded in the morning, and well filled in the evening. 
The services were very interesting. Rev. Mr. Henson (Methodist) 
thought our prayers should be made understandingly ; and he stated the 
cause of the Nation's difficulties, according to the views of the Tribune. 
He asked, "What wrong have we done?" [Two ladies now got up and 
left the church.] Mr. Alliger replied, " It was for the sins of the ivhole 
Nation, it was not North nor South ; but both alike guilty." M. 

1861, Feb. 21. — Mr. Alliger's donation party. f He began 
a course of lectures on the historical books of the Bible, in 
the Consistory room. 

1861, Feb. 18. — The anniversary of Protection Company, 
No. 1, was celebrated in the Consistory room, and was well 

* This Union was organized at the time of the religious revival in 1858, and held woelily 
meetings. Dr. John D. Shelton was President and Wm. Phraner, Secretary. 

t Donation i)artie8, or " Ministers' Bees," were in vogue before 1814. and said to be 
introduced here by Dr. Schoonmaker. The donations were, instead of money, mo.stly the 
liroducts of the farm, as flax, yarn, stockings and other gifts of small value. 



FIRST REFOEMED DUTCH CHURCH. 129 

attended. The exercises were opened with a prayer by Mr. 
Alliger. Lewis L. Fosdick, on behalf of the fair friends of 
the firemen, presented the company, in a neat address, with 
a beautiful Bible. Judge R. L. Larremore accepted the 
gift on behalf of the firemen, and delivered an address on 
"Progress." 

1861, Apr. 21. — Rev. Jared W. Scudder ( son of John) a 
missionary from India preached, on Sunday morning and 
evening. 

1861, April. — "Oil Suudaj' we had a war sermon, prayer and hymns, in 
onr cliurch." M. 

]861, June 27. — The formal opening of the Jamaica Cir- 
culating Library took place in the Consistory room, on 
Thursday evening, at 8 o'clock. 

1861, Nov. 6. — The ladies interested in the fair for the 
Circulating Ijibrary, met in the Consistory room, at 2 P. M. 

1861, July 30. — The Soldiers' Aid Society was formed in 
Jamaica. 

The picnic of the Reformed Dutch Sunday School, of Jamaica, took 
place on Thursday last, Aug. 15, at Morris' Grove. The procession left 
the village about 9 o'clock A. M., Wm. C. Hendrickson, marshal, who 
discharged his duties very creditably. Stewart's Band furnished the 
music. In the afternoon, an address was made by Rev. J. B. Alliger, 
pastor of the church. 

1861, Sep. 22, Sunday evening. — The Jamaica Bible Society 
met in the church. Though there were signs of rain, the 
audience was large, and was addressed by Eev, Messrs. Valen- 
tine, of Brooklyn, and Heuson, of Jamaica. The choir of the 
church led the music in their usually effective manner. $227 
collected the past year. 

1861. — President Lincoln appointed Thursday, Sept. 26, 
as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer ; and for offering 
fervent supplications to Almighty God for the safety and 
welfare of these States, His blessing on their arms, and a 
speedy restoration of peace. The church was open at 10| 
A. M., and Consistory room at 7.| P. M. 



130 HISTORY OF THE 

1861, Oct. 2. — Classis met in church, Wednesday, 2| P. M. 
In the evening, Rev. John McC. Holmes preached on "The 
duty of the Church in regard to her institutions of learning." 

1861. — On Sunday evening, Oct. 20, several of the Eighth 
Connecticut Regiment, with their chaplain, were at church, 
to listen to Rev. Dr. Scudder. $74.41 collected. 

1861, Oct. 27. — Sunday afternoon, the use of the church for worship 
was offered to the soldiers. The spacious edifice could scarcely contain 
the audience. Besides 600 soldiers there was a large attendance of citi- 
zens who listened attentively to an instructive and eloquent sermon, by 
tlieir Chaplain, Woolley —L. I. Farmer. 

1861, Oct. 30, Wednesday evening. — The chaplain, Eev. J. J. Woolley, 
of the Eighth Connecticut Regiment, quartered in Jamaica, gave a lecture 
in the cliurch, before our citizens and a part of that regiment. Over $30 
was collected for a circulating library for the use of the soldiers. The 
chaplain thanked Messrs. Oaiiey and Alligerfor theuse of their churches. 
— 'L. I. Farmer. 

1861, Nov. 1, Friday. — The soldiers came to church to 
hear Rev. Jared W. Scudder. 

1861, Nov. 12. — The anniversary of the Long Island Bible 
Society was held in the church. George Douglas gave .$500. 

1861, Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day.— Rev. Mr. Alliger had a very full 
attendance at his church, and gave an excellent discourse. It was not a 
"war sermon," but replete with good sense, buoyant hopes and sound 
doctrines. He recognized the hand of a good Providence in all our affairs, 
and intended for tlie advancement of God's cause in the world. No mat- 
ter how discouraging some things now seemed to us, they would in the 
end, be found to be both wise and good. We should finally be greater, 
happier and more prosperous tlian before — L. I. Farmer, Dec. 3. 

1861, Dec. 19. — The Tremaine family give a musical con- 
cert in the Consistory room, in aid of the Sunday school. 
Tickets 25 cents to be" had at the stores of Wm. T. Brush and 
Wm. Phraner. 

1861, Dec. 24 and 25. — Fair held in Consistory room in 
aid of Circulating Library. 

1852, Apr. 10. — President Lincoln issued a proclamation, 
recommending to the people of tiie United States, that at 




^. ^^/^4^- 



Artotyps, E. Bierstadt,, N, T 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 131 

their next weekly assemblies, tbey especially acknowledge 
and render thanks to our Heavenly Father, who has vouch- 
safed signal victories to the land and naval forces engaged 
in suppressing an internal rebellion. On the following 
Sunday (Apr. 13), Mr. AUiger noticed the proclamation in 
appropriate words, and a Te Deum was sung by the choir. 

1862 — A Union Army meeting will be held in the Reformed Dutch 
church, on next Sabbath evening, June 15, in aid of the Board of Publi- 
cation for army and navy purposes. The agent of the Board, who is in 
constant communication with manj' of the chaplains in the government 
service, will be present, and communicate some very interesting infor- 
mation. Addresses may be expected by the Eev. Stephen A. Tyng, Jr., 
and by some Chaplain or ofHcer recently from the army or navy. The 
meeting will be one of deep interest to all. All are cordially invited to 
attend. The Board of Publication of the Reformed Dutch Church has 
been very active in the distribution of religious reading, and the sick and 
wounded demand instant help. $57 collected. — L. I. Farmer. 

1862, Aug. 10. — Mr. Alliger preached a sermon on "Obedi- 
ence to Government." 

Our Recruits. — We have said before now, and we repeat, "that we 
feel proud of the volunteers from Jamaica." It was pleasant to see 
about twenty of them together in the Reformed Dutch Church, on last 
Sabbath evening. They cheerfully accepted an invitation from the 
Pastor, Rev. J. B. Alliger, to attend service; and they listened most 
attentively to the words of counsel and encouragement, addressed to 
them by one who shows a lively interest in the welfare of those, espe- 
cially, who enlist from this town. There was a large audience present 
to give their encouragement to, and to offer their prayers for these noble 
men. After the service each soldier, not before supplied, was presented 
with a handsome copy of the New Testament and Psalms, bound in one 
volume; the book was cheerfully and gratefully received. — L. I. Farmer. 
Sept. -2, 1862. 

1862. — John M. Johnson, of Duryea's Zouaves, died Sept. 7, in hospital, 
from wounds received at Manasses, Aug. 3, in his 22d year. His remains 
were brought to Ja.maica, and the funeral appointed at the church, Oct. 3, 
11 A. M., Rev. J. B. Alliger officiating, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Oakey 
and Huntting. It partook of a civic and military funeral. The firemen 
turned out in large numbers, and after the solemn service in the church, 
led the procession to the grave. Fifty of the Ironsides Regiment and 
twenty of Duryea's Zouaves were the especial escort and the latter, in 



132 HISTORY OF THE 

two files of ten each, marched close beside thebier, acting in the capacity 
of pall-bearers. An unusually large audience was present though it was 
stormy. In the church, everything was solemn, and appropriate. The 
coffin was placed before the pulpit, covered with the pall and American 
flag. The music upon the organ and by the choir was exquisitely sweet, 
solemn and appropriate ; and this young soldier received a fit testimony 
of regard and honor. The villagestores were closed during the services. — 
L. I. Farmer, Oct. 7, 1862. 

At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry of Grace Church, 
held on the 8th of Oct., 1862, the following preamble and 
resolution were adopted : 

To the Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church, Jamaica, L. I. : 

Gentlemen : — Whereas, the Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church 
did with great liberality, and in a true christian spirit, give to the con- 
gregation of Grace Church, upon the destruction of its edifice by tire, the 
use of their Consistory room for the purpose of divine worship ; now 
therefore be it 

Resolved, That our best thanks and acknowledgements be, and are 
hereby tendered to the Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church for the 
very acceptable and comfortable accommodations furnished bj' them to 
this congregation, during the period required for the rebuilding of its 
churcli edifice, and that this congregation will ever hold in grateful 
remembrance this act of liberality and consideration on their pari. 

Jeremiah Valentine, 

Clerk of the Vestry. 

1863, March 1, Sunday evening.— On the anniversary of 
the Sunday School, the large church was nearly filled, the 
scholars occupied twenty pews. Four hymns were sung. 
Jas. Phraner played on the melodeon, Miss Lucy J. Ham 
led the music. Mr. Pardee, of New York, and Carlos A. 
Butler, of Jamaica, addressed the scholars. 

1863, Apr. 30. — Thursday was a day of national prayer 
and humiliation in recognition of Divine Providence, and in 
supplicating the Divine Blessing on our country ; for the 
pardon of our national sins, and restoration of our now 
divided and suffering country to unity and peace.* Services 
in church at 10^ A. M., and in Consistory room at 7.^ P. M. 

* An Irish anti-draft riot broke out in Jamaica, on the evening of July li, 18C3. Its 
purpose was to stop the draft which was to commence, next day. Rumors of intended 
violence were rife during the afternoon, and some friends of order felt disposed to arm 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 133 

1863, Aug. 6.— Thursday, in compliance with the Presi- 
dent's Proclamation, was observed in church as a day of 
National praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God, for his 
tender mercies to us in the struggle for our national liberty, 
and for suppressing the destroyers of our Union ; and for 
the successive victories gained by our armies and navy. 

1863, Sept. 13. — The Sunday morning service was inter- 
rupted by an alarm of fire. The barn of Mr. J. N. Brinck- 
erhoff was consumed. 

1863, Thanksgiving day, Nov. 26. — A liberal collection in 
church for the United States Sanitar}^ Commission. 

1863, Dec. — One of the most attractive features of the Holidays was 
the fairlield by the ladies, in their Consistory room, Christmas eve and 
day. The attendance was unusually large. Substantials and luxuries 
were on the refreshment table; toys, books, confectionery and fancy 
articles of all kinds were for sale. Among the prizes drawn were an 
Afghan, worth $75, a sewing machine, worth $100, and other smaller arti- 
cles. Over $500 was realized toward paying off the debt of the parson- 
age. Mrs. Aaron A. Degrauw, Mrs. M. E. Story, and Mrs. Wm. Phraner 
were the managers. 

1861, Jan. 14.— $30.85 was collected for the Soldiers' Aid 
Society. 

1864, Jan. 16. — Paid $432.50 for a perpetual insurance of 
the church, to the sum of $10,000, in Franklin Insurance Co. 

1804. —The anniversary of the Sunday School was held on the evening 
of February 21 . It was a pleasant entertainment, and the large audience 
in attendance seemed highly gratified. The school occupied the body 

in defence of Government : but timid counsels prevailed, and the village was left to the 
mercy of the rioters. About dusk they began to gather together. Some one cried 
out : " Now for the clothing ! " The mob then rushed to the building in Washington 
street, where the Government property was stored, with intent to destroy it. They how- 
ever, contented themselves (on the entreaty of some leading democrats) with taking out 
some boxes of soldiers' clothing, which they broke open and piled in heaps, and then 
set on fire. The large pile, called " Mount Vesuvius," was about ten feet high. The 
woollens did not readily burn, and some was carried off by Irish women for family use. 
The loss was f 3,-14(5.28, and consisted of 210 knit-shirts, 80 pair stockiugs, 30 pair trowsers, 
59 knapsacks, 400 haversacks, 389 blankets, 153 canteens, and 523 blouses. The mob next 
proceeded to McHugh's hotel, where they drank freely and without cost. The Provost 
Marshal s Office was entered and the furniture broken. The draft wheel and papers had 
been removed that afternoon to a place of safety ; and Col. Eose, with his subordinates 
had fled. This draft was put off 'till Sept. 2. 



134 



HISTORY OF THE 



of the church, and sang the hymns selected for the occasion with much 
spirit, having the melodeon accompaniment. 

The Kev. A. W. Cornell, of Grace Church, addressed the children in a 
way that could not but delight and profit them. The Rev. Wm. E. Dur- 
yea, of East Williamsburgh, addressed the teachers and congregation. 
His speech was to the point and effective. Those in attendance seldom 
listened to addresses so admirably suited to the occasion as these were. 
About one hundred volum(3S of handsome and instructive books were 
distributed among the children. The service concluded with the Dox- 
ology by the whole congregation, the grand organ of the church accom- 
panying. 

1864, March 1. — A. paper was clrawu up by which the sub- 
scribers agreed to pay the sum set opposite their names 
(iu five instaUmeuts, viz : on May 1, 18G4, and Jan 1, 1865, 
'66, '67 and '68), for paying off the debts of the church. 
Here follow the names. 



Richard Brush $500 

Wm. Phraner 500 

Daniel Hendriclison 300 

Abm. De Bevoise 300 

James Ryder HO 

Stephen Ryder 200 

James Lott 150 

Isaac Amborman 150 

Ditmars Stoothoff 100 

John De Bevoise. 100 

John N. Brinckerhoff . 100 

Hendrick A. Hendrickson 100 

Phebe Hagner . •. 125 

Andrew De Bevoise 100 

Smith N jstrand 30 

George Bennet . 100 

David Baiseley 50 

Mrs. Anna M. Ham . 50 

Charles H. Harris 100 

Martin I. Duryea ICO 

George Suydam 125 

Nicliolas Amberman 90 

Daniel R. Suydam 125 

Joseph O. Skillman 80 

John Van Nostrand 40 

John S. Van Nostrand. 100 

Nathaniel Nostrand. 100 

William Nostrand 75 



John R. Nostrand $ 75 

Albert Stoothoff 75 

Luke Bergen 100 

J jhn Covert . . 35 

Cor's. Amberman 50 

Mrs. St. N. Lott 100 

Harvej" Powell 25 

Mis. Mary E. B. Story 120 

States Edwards 60 

Reuiseii Bennet. 75 

Abm. A. Hendrickson 40 

James Lott 100 

Phebe Burnet 100 

Nicholas Ludlum 100 

Theodorus Snedcker 100 

Samuel Eldert 40 

Aaron A. Degrauw 300 

Morris Covert 90 

Wm. C. Stoothoff 100 

Ludlum Frederick 50 

Hendrick Lott 50 

John Amberman 10 

John Remsen ... 150 

Thos. H. Fredericks 75 

Jas. Aug. Herriman 75 



Total sum $5,947 



FIRST REFOKMEP DUTCH CHURCH. 135 

ISCA, July 27, Weduesday evening. — Adam Chambers, 
the " boj' preacher," preached in the Consistor}^ room, and 
took up a collection for the erection of a Baptist meeting 
house, at Hicksville. 

1864, Oct. 11. — At the annual meeting of the Jamaica Branch Bible 
Society, held in the lecture room of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Henry 
Onderdonk, Jr., was elected presidentin the place of Dr. Nathan Shelton, 
deceased. The public anniversary of the Society will be held in the 
Keformed Dutch Church, on Sunday evening next, at 7^ o'clock. The 
meeting will be addressed by the Eev. Dr. Holdrich, secretary of the 
American Bible Society, and others. — L. I. Farmer. 

1865, Feb. 6. — $50.25 was paid for a heater in the church. 

1865. — The anniversary of the Sabbath School connected with the Re- 
formed Dutch Church, of this village, was celebrated in the church on 
Sunday evening, Feb. 19. The building was crowded with scholars and 
their friends. The children sang several pieces very well; the Pastor, 
Rev. J. B. Alliger made a few appropriate remarks, and then Mr. Wood- 
ruff, from Brooklyn was introduced. After this address the presentation 
of books took place, and after singing ai,'ain, the audience was dismissed, 
highly delighted with what they saw and heard. — L. I. Farmer. 

FUNERAL OF LINCOLN. 

1865. — The committee appointed by the citizens of this 
town to make arrangements for appropriate exercises oa the 
Funeral solemnities of our late Chief Magistrate, on Wednes- 
day, April 19, would respectfully recommend the following : 

1. At 7 A. M., the bells of the different churches to be tolled in unison 
for one half-hour. 

2. All the places of business are requested to be closed at 9 A. M., and 
to be kepi closed during the remainder of the day, all places of business 
and private residences to be suitably draped in mourning. 

3. By reason of tlie solemnity of the occasion and the deep grief of the 
community at the recent National calamity in the death of President 
Lincoln it is recommended that all public display be dispensed with, and 
the citizens of the town be requested to assemble at the Reformed Dutch 
Church, at llj A. M., where appropriate funeral services are to be held, 
such services to be under the direction of the clergy of the village. 

4. That the services in the church commence precisely at 12 M., and 



136 HISTORY OF THE 

that the bells of the several churches be tolled for thirty minutes prior 
thertito. 

5. The bells to be tolleJ for half an hour before sunset. 

Carlos A. Butlek, Chairman. 

John O'Donnell, Jr., Secretary. 

Last Wednesday will long be remembered by our citizens. The tolling 
bells, the flags at half-mast, and the houbes draped in the symbols of 
woe, marked the deep and solemn feeling of every citizen in our midst. 
At seven o'clock the funeral toll of the church bells announced to all the 
near approach of the time to pay the last tribute of respect to the mem- 
ory of the late President. At 9' o'clock all places of business were closed 
and remained so during the daj'. At half-past 11 the church bells sum- 
moned the people to the place appointed for the ceremonies of the day. 
And at 12 M., every part of the Reformed Dutch Church was crowded, 
with an attentive and sorrowing congregation. Sadness brooded o'er the 
entire assemblage, and all felt the inipressiveness of tiie solemn occasion 
that had convened them. The exei'cises were oiieued by a feeling and 
eloquent address by the Rev. J. B. Alliger, after which the Rev. Dr. 
Johnson, Rector of Grace Church, read a portion of the Episcopal burial 
service. Rev. Mr. Cornell, of the Episcopal Church, Rev. Mr. Farley, 
of the Roman Catholic Church, the Rev. Mr. Backman, of the Metho- 
dist church, and Rev. Mr. Oakey of the Px'esbyterian Church, delivered 
brief but exceedingly appropriate addresses. The Rev. Benj. Everitt, 
of Stroudsburgh, Penn., led the congregation in prayer. 

The members of the different church choirs in the village united, and 
contributed much to tlie interest of the occasion. 

The most solemn and impressive portion of the exercises was when the 
Rev. Mr. Alliger requested, that the vast congregation should unite in 
solemn, but silent pray.er. And we have no doubt that all felt themselves 
the better for having participated in the exercises. 

On Thursday, in accordance with the suggestions of Gov. Fenton, our 
places of business were mostly closed, and service was held in the Epis- 
copal Church. 

Several of our citizens, in addition to the emblems of mourning with 
which they had their residences clothed, had up inscriptions expressive 
of their feelings. — L. I. Farmer, April '25. 

186.5. — One of the first acts of President Johnson after assuming the 
duties of the office, was the appointment of the 1st day of June "as a 
daj' of humiliation and mourning," in consequence of the assassination 
of Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States. Thursday next 
is ttie day ; and there will be a general observance of it by the patriotic 
and Christian people of this land. In this village divine S(!rvices will be 
held, beginning at half-past ten o'clock, A. M., in the Episcopal, Pres- 
byterian, Methodist and Reformed Dutch Churches. There will be a 
general suspension of business on that day. — L. I. Farmer, May 30. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 137 

1865. — Bj a proclamation of the President, Thursday, 
Dec. 7. was observed as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty 
God for relieving our beloved country from the fearful 
scourge of civil war and from the calamities of foreign war, 
pestilence and famine, and for abundant crops. 

1866. — The anniversary of the Sabbath School of the Reformed Dutch 
Church, on last Sunday evening, was an exceedingly interesting and un- 
usually successful affair. At 7 o'clock, the hour fixed for the beginning 
of the exercises, the spacious church v?as filled to its entire capacity ; 
seats were placed in the aisles, yet a large number were compelled to 
stand. The school, a large and flourishing one, was seated in the centre 
of the church, and occupying about twenty-four pews, directly in front of 
the pulpit. It was their anniversary, so the teachers and children had 
prepared themselves to sing some well selected hymns ; this part was 
performed with spirit, to the delight of the large assemblage that listened 
to the sweet voices of happy children. Miss Lucy J. Ham had trained 
the scliool for these exercises, and Mrs. Story played the organ accom- 
paniments. The speakers were Mr. Thomas Gulick, a student in the 
Union Theological Seminary, and son of the venerable Missionary who 
has been laboring about thirty-five years in the Sandwich Islands, and 
the Rev. Joseph T. Duryea, formerly of this village, now one of the Pas- 
tors of the Collegiate Dutch Church, New York. The first speaker, being 
a native of the Sandwich Islands, gave an interesting account of the 
habits and customs of the inhabitants, and the religious condition of 
the people now as compared with their condition only a generation since. 
The Rev. Mr. Duryea held the attention of all present in an address of 
considerable length, remarkable for its great simplicity, beauty and 
power, adapted to the understanding of tlie children, and wonderfully 
suggestive and instructive to men and women. After the address came 
the "presentation of books," and each scholar received a volume pt 
profitable reading, and the date of the anniversary, neatly written in the 
front of the books. The Rev. Mr. Oakey, of the Presbyterian Church, 
conducted the devotional part of the service, and the Pastor of the 
church. Rev. Mr. Alliger, had charge of the exercises in general. The 
whole service occupied about two hours. — L. I. Farmer, Feb. 27, 1866. 

1866. — On Sunday April 1, there was a large gathering in 
the Reformed Church, at the funeral of a brave soldier who 
never turned his back on a foe, Jacob D. Bennett, who died 
May 7, 1864, from a wound received at Chancellorsville. 
The firemen escorted the body to the church, and thence to 
the grave. 

1866, April 17. — Classis met in the church. 



138 HISTORY OF THE 

1866. — A Soldier's Funeral. — The remains of Jas. Alfred 
Kilburn were brought froQi near Petersburg to his home in 
Jamaica. His funeral, attended by the fire department and 
a large concourse of citizens, took place on Sunday, 'April 
22, at 2 P, M., in the Reformed Church which was engaged 
in order that those in attendance might have accommoda- 
tions ; and the large building was nearly filled. The services 
were conducted by the Rev. G. Taylor, Methodist, assisted by 
Rev. Mr. AUiger. The deceased fell at Fort Gregg, fighting 
for his country and while carrying his colors. 

1866, May 6. — Collection for the German Reformed Church, 
Williamsburgh, $60. 

1866. — Augustus Waters will give humorous and pathetic 
readings on the evenings of May 17 and 18, in the Consis- 
tory room. Tickets, 50 cents.* 

1866. — The Jamaica Bible Society held its annual meeting in the Re- 
formed Church, Sunday evening, Sept. 23, the President, Eev. P. D. 
Oakey, conducting the exercises. The annual report was read by Mr. 
James D. Ditmars. Addresses were made by Eev. Mr. Taylor, of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, this village; Kev. Wm. H. Moore, of the 
Episcopal Church, Hempstead, and Eev. Wm. Anderson, of the Eeformed 
Dutch Church, Newtown ; and statements regarding the operations of the 
Society by Eev. Mr. AUiger. The audience was large and seemed deeply 
interested, as the addresses were very able, and all the exercises of an 
impressive character. Dr. G. C. Kissam presided at the organ. 

1866, Oct. 22. — The Howard Mission, for support of "Lit- 
tle Wanderers," who sang their peculiar songs, held a meet- 
ing in the Consistory room, and took up a collection. 

1866. — " A fair in the Consistory room, in aid of the Sunday 
School, on Christmas eve, aftefnoon and evening. Worsted 
goods, aprons, dolls, books, albums, children's toys, ice cream, 
oysters, cake, candies, &c., all of which will be sold at prices 
not exorbitant." The net proceeds were $450 ; and many 
fancy and useful articles left on hand. 

♦ At the time the Consistory room was built, there was hardly any convenient room 
for public exhibitions or lectures, so that it was often allowed free of expense for re- 
ligious and charitable purposes ; otherwise it was hired out. 1864, Dec. 5. — The treas- 
urer of the church received $27 from the Teachers' Institute, for its use ; and Jan. 26, 
18G6, he received $30 ; 1867, Feb. 9, he received $25 from Dr. Sparks, for use of the room. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 139 

1867, Feb. 14.— Dr. Sparks, electric and magnetic healer, 
lectured in the Consistory room, to women in the afternoon, 
and men in the evening. Twenty-five cents admission. 

1867, Feb. 17.— The Sunday School under the charge of Wm. Phraner, 
had its anniversary, on Sunday evening, in the church, which was crowded, 
Dr. G. C. Kissam presided at the organ. Addresses were made by Rev. 
Messrs. Alliger, Gulick, a Sandwich Islander, and Powell, a Long Islander. 
Each scholar was presented with a book ; and especial premiums to 
Martha E. Phraner and Haimah Powell, for committing to memory the 
Heidelberg Catechism, and to Sarah Phraner, for the Hellenbroek Cate- 
chism, and to Lucy J. Ham, who, for several years, has conducted the 
singing, an elegant set of Smith's Bible Dictionary. — L. I. Farmer. 

1867. — Mr. L. L. Allen will give a temperance lecture in the Consistory 
room, Thursday evening, March 7. He has letters of commendation 
from Lincoln, And. Johnson and Gen. Grant. — L. I. Farmer. 

1867, July. — By a resolution of Consistory (Oct. 1866), a 
collection of .$501 was taken up for church expenses.* 

1867, July. — The Methodists use the Consistory room while 
their church is repairing and renovating. 

1867, Dec. 1. Sunday evening. — Mr. Alliger's sermon to 
youth : " Is the young man safe ? " 

1867, Dec. 5. — General Synod vote to leave out the word 
"Dutch" from their title. 

1867, Dec— A carpet and stove (costing $151.61) were 
presented to Mrs. Alliger by the ladies of the church, 

1868.— Religious.— This is the "week of prayer" for the extension of 
Christ's Kingdom. The Church Visitation in the Reformed Church, 
began on Sabbath last, and religious services will be held in the church 
every evening this week, beginning at 7 o'clock. The fii'st half hour will 
be a meeting for prayer. Rev. Mr. Ten Eyck, of Astoria. ofiRciated on 
Sunday, and preached two impressive sermons, to large and interested 
audiences. On Monday evening, preaching by Rev. C. J. Shepard, of 
Newtown ; on Tuesday evening, sermon by Rev. Wm. H. Ten Eyck ; on 
Wednesday evening, sermon by Rev. E. S. Pairchild, of Flushing. The 
public generally are invited to attend upon these services. — L. I. Farmer, 
Jan. 7. 



* 1851, Jan. 1. — Five per cent, was assessed on the appraised value of the pews sold, 
and seven and a half on those unsold in order to pay the church expenses. The pews 
sold in 1859 were subject to a tax of ten per cent.; those rented, to a tax of fifteen per 
cent. 



. 140 HISTORY OF THE 

1868. — The anniversary of the Sabbath School of the Reformed Church, 
was held Sunday evening, Feb. 16. The large edifice was filled with a 
highly intelligent audience, who were greatly interested in the proceed- 
ings. The choice collection of hymns for the occasion was admirably 
sung by the school. The addresses, delivered by Mr. Wra. Ferris, of 
Brooklyn, and the Rev. E. S. Fairchiid, of Flushing, were of a superior 
order. Both speakers adapted their sayings to the camprehension of 
children, and we never saw a company of children more delighted. The 
presentation of books was made by the Superintendent, each scholar 
receiving a handsome volume. — L. I. Farmer. 

1868. — A Happy Pabty. — It is not easy to surprise a Dutch Domine; 
but the Domine of the Reformed Church was fairly caught last week . 
The youth of the Sunday School had arranged for a visit at the Parson- 
age, and on last Wednesday evening carried out their plan. Assembling 
in large force at the place agreed upon, they proeet-ded to the residence 
of the Pastor, Rev. Mr. Alligei", and literally surprised his Reverence. 
Masters Wessell H. Bennett and Theodore J. Armstrong, heading the pro- 
cession, carried a large and beautiful writing desk, well filled with all nec- 
essary articles (including a valuable gold pen), and indue form presented 
the same to Mr. A. The gift was kindly received, and the Minister and 
his family threw open their house for the enjoyment of the children, who 
availed themselves of the opportunity to spend a joyful evening. The 
party carried with them a large supply of refreshments of various kinds, 
and spreading' a bountiful table, all present, j'oung and old, partook of 
the good things, and left a large quantity behind them. The company 
dispersed at a reasonable hour in the best of spirits. — L. I. Democrat, 
June 9. 

1868. — As IT SHOULD BE. — During the time the repairs of the Pres- 
byterian Church are in progress, by an arrangement made, the Presby- 
terian congregation will worship with the congregation of the Reformed 
Church. Rev. Mr. Oakey is now absent on a short vacation, and the 
Rev. Mr. Alliger officiates. When Mr. Oakey returns,. Mr. Alliger is to 
take his vacation and the duties of the pulpit will be performed bj' the 
Rev. Mr. Oakey. — L. I. Democrat, Aug. 4. 

1868. — Through the kindness of a member of his congregation, the Pastor 
of the Reformed Church has been enabled to take a tour of several days' 
duration through the charming scenery of Lakes George and Champlain, 
from which he has just returned, greatly benefited by this brief respite 
from the labors of his office. — L. I. Democrat, Sep. 8. 

1868. — The picnic of the Reformed Church Sabbath School, on Wednes- 
day, September 16, was an unusually pleasant and gratifying affair. 
Turning from old and well beaten paths, our Dutch friends determined 
to go to Northport, over the Long Island Railroad. A special train was 
chartered, of seven cars, and at 9 o'clock the company was on board, and 
away went the train, full of happy children, with their parents and 



FIRST EEFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 141 

friends. They reached Northport at 10.30, and hurried to the grove for 
the day's enjoyment. Baskets, boxes, melons, ice cream followed, by 
wagon loads, and in a beautiful spot, upon a hill covered with trees, the 
party spent the day in real picnic style. The band from New York, 
Augustus Ihl, leader, gave much choice music, and by the way, leaving 
Northport at 4.30 P. M., the excursionists were at Jamaica depot a few 
minutes after six o'clock, not the slightest mishap having occurred to 
mar the pleasure of the trip. Mr. Israel Carll, the owner of the ground 
at Northport, to his praise be it said, permitted the company to use his 
premises free of charge, and was so unselfish as to offer assistance in 
other ways freely. The cost of the excursion was $12.5. — L. I. Farmer. 

1868, Sept. 13. — Collection for the church at Sayville, 
$60; andJuly 25, 1869, $31.10. 

1868. — The Jamaica Bible Society met, Sunday evening, Oct. 4, in the 
Reformed Church. A large and intelligent audience assembled. Eev. 
P. D. Oakey, President, began the services ; Rev. E. S. Fairchild read 
the Scriptures, and Rev. G. W. Pendleton offered prayer. Jas. D. Dit- 
'mars, secretary, read his report, after which Rev. Jas. Wyckoff, of 
Queens, and Mr. French, of Flushing, addre.ssed the people. Two or 
three appropriate psalms were sung. — L. I. Farmer. 

1869, Jan. 4-8. — This being the week of church visitation by Classis, 
there will be preaching in the church as follows : Monday evening. Rev. 
W. H. Ten Eyck, of Astoria; Tuesday evening, Eev. E. S. Fairchild, of 
Flushing; Wednesday evening, Rev. James Wyckoff, of Queens; Thurs- 
day evening. Rev. Cornelius L. Wells, of Flatbush ; Friday evening, ad- 
dresses by several clergymen. 

1869.— The anniversary of the Sunday School of the Reformed Church 
was held on Sabbath evening, Feb. 21. The church was well tilled by a 
large and highly pleased audience. The singing by the scholars was 
good, and reflected credit upon Mrs. Mary E. Story, under whose super- 
vision this part of the entertainment was. Very interesting addresses 
were made by the Rev. Mr. Kip, a missionary from China, and Dr. Lan- 
sing. A very handsome and well selected assortment of books was dis- 
tributed among the scholars. Misses Mattie Fleury and Emily William- 
son received prizes for having recited, during the past year, the whole 
volume of the catechism used in the school. The school is under the 
superintendence of Mr. William Phraner. During the past year the 
number on register was 200. Two members of the school have joined 
the church; and one was removed by death. Daring the year $120 has 
been raised and appropriated for benevolent purposes by the scholars. — 
L. I. Farmer, Fob. 23. 

1869, Mar. 17.— Paid $74.69 for slating the roof of the 
church. 



142 HISTORY OF THE 

1869, Apr. 17. — A.n application was made to Consistory to 
establish a Sunday School at East Jamaica, where are forty 
children. Abm. De Bevoise was appointed to organize it, 
next Sunday. Agreed that the salary of the pastor be raised 
to $1,300 and that subscription papers be circulated. 

1869.— On the evening of June 17, will be exhibited in the Consistory 
room, Tillotson's "Grand Mirror of the Bible," illustrating 100 events in 
the Bible, the days of creation, &c. Twenty-five cents admission. 

1869, Nov. 18, Thanksgiving.— Ill the Eeformed Church the Rev. Mr. 
Alliger preached from Deut. xvi, 13, 14, 15 verses. 

1869. — The meeting of the several Sabbath Schools of our village in the 
Consistory room of the Reformed Church, on Thursday evening, Nov. 18, 
was largely attended, and the interest manifested at this, the first meet- 
ing of a series which are to be held during the coming season, bespeaks 
the attention of all who are interested in the Sabbath School work. The 
meeting was conducted by Mr. William Phraner, Superintendent of the 
Sabbath School of the Reformed Church, who stated that the object of the 
meeting was to enlist the attention and sympathies of all, and especially 
the parents of children, in the Sabbath schools. The singing, which was 
an interetiting feature on this occasion, was under the direction of Mr. 
Bernhard. The opening address was made by the Rev. Mr. Alliger, and 
was followed by the Rev. Mr. Thomas Cook and others, in a very pleas- 
ing and instructive manner ; and most of the remarks that were made 
were of a practical nature, presenting a striking contrast between the 
religious and secular schools of the present daj', and showing the impor- 
tance of an increased attention by the parents, in giving to their children 
some religious instruction at home, and not leaving all for the Sabbath 
School teacher to do. The next meeting of the Jamaica Sunday School 
Union will be held in the lecture room of the Presbyteiian Church. — L. I. 
Democrat. 

1869.— The Sunday School singing meeting was held in the Reformed 
Church, on Monday evening, Dec. 20. Although the evening was Vt^ry 
rainy, the storm did not prevent a goodly number from assembling and 
enjoying the exercises of the occasion. This meeting was a union of the 
Presb^'terian, Reformed and Baptist schools, formed for mutual edifica- 
tion, and designed to awaken a deeper interest in the Sabbath School work. 
Mr. Phraner, the superintendent of the Reformed school, presided, and 
conducted the services. The hymns selected for the occasion were ap- 
propriate, and sung with spirit, Prof. Tillinghast leading the singing, and 
Mrs. Story presiding at the organ. Prof. T. gave an interesting Scrip- 
ture lesson, in which the children and all others seemed greatly inter- 
ested. Lewis L. Fosdick, and Jarcd Hasbroucl\, Principal of Union Hall, 



FIRST REFOEMED DUTCH CHURCH. 143 

made the chief, appropriate and impressive addresses. The next meeting 
will be held in the Presb^'terian Church, on Monday evening, Jan. 17, 
1870.— L. /. Democrat. 

1869, Dec. 7. — Professor Tilliughast will open a siugiug 
scbool in the Consistory room, on the evening of Dec. 8. 
Twelve lessons for $1. 

1870, Jan. 11-14. — In connection with the evening meet- 
ings for prayer in the church, there will be sermons by Rev. 
Messrs. McKelvey, Carroll and Fairchild, a visiting commit- 
tee, appointed by Classis. 

1870, Feb. 13. — The anniversary of the Sunday School 
was held in the church. Mr. AUiger, in the name of the 
teachers, gave Wm. Phraner, superintendent, Smith's Bible 
Dictionary, elegantly bound. The school had given $166 to 
missions the past year. 

1870, March 14, Monday evening.— Children's singing 
meeting in the church, under the direction of Abm. De Be- 
voise. Superintendent of the East Jamaica Sunday School. 
Miss Jennie De Bevoise and Mr. George L. Powell led 
the music. Prayer by Rev. Mr. AUiger, and addresses by 
Messrs. Bernhard, Phraner and Acker and Rev. Messrs. 
Hill, Cook and AUiger. 

1870, March 17. — A meeting was held in the Consistory 
room, of the friends of temperance,* humanity and truth, on 
Thursday evening. 

1870. — Sunday evening, April 10, the East Jamaica Sunday 
School, in charge of Abm. De Bevoise, held their celebration 
in the church. Rev. Mr. Simpson, Messrs. Ditmars Jewell, 
and Elijah x4.11iger addressed the scholars, to whom books 
were presented. 

1870, May 18, Wednesday evening. — A concert of sacred 
music in church, Wm. Tillinghast, conductor. Mrs. Spader, 

* Timothy Nostraud (Sept. 7, 1829,) was chairman of the first meeting, held in Jamaica, 
to form a Society for the suppression of intemperance. Rev. Chas. P. Mcllvaine ad- 
dressed the meeting. Ardent spirits were once reckoned among the necessaries of life. 
While the church was being repaired, in 1815. the carpenter made daily charges of a pint 
of rum, I'd. ; a pint of gin, 2s. ; or half a pint of .spirits, Is- In 1832, drinks were poured 
out, at stated hours, to the workmen on the new church. 



144 HISTORY OF THE 

Armstrong, Story, H. U. Eider, Ella Hendrickson, Miss 
Mattie E. Phraner, Mr. Jas. Phraner and Mr. G. W. Allen 
were among the singers. 

RESIGNATIOiSr OF REV. MR. ALLIGER. 

1870. — We regret to learn that the Rev. Mr. Alliger tendered his resig- 
nation on Sunday, May 22. He has made many warm and devoted 
friends, and has labored faithfully. His salary will be paid up to 
Aug. 1. — L. I. Democrat. 

1870, May 23. — Sundry members of the congregation 
agreed to pay the Consistory $916.33 for the benefit of our 
Pastor, Rev. J. B. Alliger, as a free gift.* 

At a meeting of the Consistory of the Reformed Church, 
held on the 23d day of May, 1870, elders and deacons all 
present, at the church. On motion it was resolved : 

Whereas, Our Pastor, the Rev. .J. B. Alliger, has tendered his resig- 
nation to us, and we the Consistory, have consented to unite with him in 
an application to Classis for a dissolution of the pastoral relation sub- 
sisting between him and our church ; therefore, 

Resolved, That we regret that he should have felt it his duty to take 
this step, as we are assured that he is held in affectionate re>,'ard by the 
great mass of our people. 

Resolved, That the severance of the tie which for nearly twenty years 
has bound him to us in the most intimate relation, causes us deep sorrow, 
and nothing but his own earnestly expressed conviction of duty would 
have induced us to consent to his resignation. 

Resolved, That we hereby express our undiminished confidence in him, 
and bear testimony to his consistent christian life and fidelity as a min- 
ister of the Gospel of Jesus Clirist. 

Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions be properly engrossed 
and transmitted to our pastor and published in the Christian Intelligencer. 

MaKTIN I. DUEYEA, ScC. 

Pursuant to a call of its President, the North Classis of 
Long Island met at the Synod's rooms, No. 34 Vesey street, 
New York, on Monday, the 30th day of May. 1870. 

A joint application from the Rev. J. B. Alliger and the church of 
Jamaica, for the dissolution of the pastoral relation subsisting between 

* The Consistory agreed (1870, Oct. 2) to pay Rev. J. B. Alliger, the sum ($539.90> 
claimed by him as salary due him, though they don't feel bouud by any former agree- 
ment. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 145 

him and that church was laid before the Classis. After hearing from 
brother Alliger the reasons that influenced him to present his resignation 
to the Consistory, and the expression on the part of the members of 
Classis of their great regrets that the dissolution should takeplace, it was 

Resolved, That the pastoral relation between Eev. J. B. Alliger and 
the Reformed Church of Jamaica be, and is hereby dissolved. 

After a fervent prayer by the Rev. Dr. Carroll, for God's blessing on 
this brother and his familj'. The Classis adjourned. 

The Rev. John G. Van Slyke was called as pastor, Aug. 
23, 1870, at a salary of $1,600 per annum with parsonage, 
and to be increased as the rental of the pews shall warrant. 

1870, Sept. 1, Thursday. — Sunday School picnic to the 
Pavilion, Kockaway. 

1870, Oct. 9, Sunday evening. — Jamaica Bible Society met 
in church. 

1870. — A special meeting of the North Classis of Long Island, was held. 
on Monday. Oct. 31. at the Synod's rooms, 34 Vesey street. New York. 
A call from the Reformed Church, of Jamaica, upon the Rev. J. G. 
Van Slyke, of Readington, New Jersey, was presented for the appro- 
val of Classis. The Classis approved the call, and Mr. Van Slyke hav- 
ing signified his acceptance, arrangements were made for his installation, 
as Pastor of the Reformed church of Jamaica. Installation to take place 
on Sunday afternoon, November 20. — L. I. Democrat. 

^ 1870. — Sunday, Nov. 6, Mr. Van Slyke* began his services 
here, as pastor. 

Installation. — The Rev. John G. Van Slyke was installed Pastor of 
the Reformed Church, Jamaica, L. I., on Sabbath afternoon, Nov. 20, in 
presence of a large congregation. Many from other denominations with 
their pastors were in attendance. The introductory prayer was made 
by Thos. E. Vermilye, D. D. ; the sermon was preached by Rev. Geo. D. 
Hulst, from I Cor. 1 : 17 ; Rev. C. J. Shepard, of Newtown, presided, read 
the form of installation, and proposed the constitutional questions ; Dr. 
Vermilye then delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Alex. Mc- 
Kelvey, of Greenpoint, the charge to the people. After singing an anthem 
the crowded audience received the benediction from the newly installed 
pastor. 

On Sabbath morning, Nov. 27, the pastor preached his inaugural ser- 
mon to a large and appreciative audience, including many from other 

* Joha Gurney Van Slyke was born at Coeymans 1845. Graduated at Rutgers College 
1866 and at the Theological Seminary 1869. He served at Readington, N. J. till 1870 
when he accepted a call to Jamaica. 



146 HISTORY or THE 

denominations. His text was Ex. 17 : 15, Jehovah-nissi (the Lord my 
banner). The thoughts were novel, striking and pungent. Many of the 
people were deeply affected, and all agreed that it was a most happy 
effort, in which the dignity and character of the ministerial office were 
well set forth. 

The new Pastor has been called with a singular unanimitj', and with 
the kindest sympathies of sister denominations ; and so far has realized 
the most sanguine expectations of the people. 

1870, Dec. 11. — The teachers of the Sunday School passed 
resolutions of condolence, and respect for the memory of 
Miss Maj^gie Ham, their fellow teacher.* 

1870, Dec. 21. — Tlie Young Mens' Christian Association 
was formed in the Consistory room. E. A. Brinckerhoff, 
Carlos A. Butler, John M. Crane, committee. 

1871, Jan. 3. — Week of prayer. Rev. Mr. Lampman lead 
the services in the Consistory room, Tuesday evening. 

1871, Jan. 30. — Paid $6.50 for a new church record book, 
and $9 for a church register. 

1871, Jan 31 and Feb. 6. — Donation party to Mr. Van 
Slyke. 1500 received. 

1871, Feb. 1, 2 and 7. — Classical visitation. The services 
consisted of prayer meetings, followed by sermons from Rev. 
Messrs. McKelvey, Hulst and Dr. Porter. 

1871, Mar. 5. — At the anniversary of the Sunday School 
addresses were made by Rev. Messrs. James and Lampman, 
and Mr. Jared Hasbrouck. Books were presented to the 
scholars ; and especial prizes for punctuality to Frederick 
Ham, Isaac De Bevoise and Marietta and Charlotte De 
Bevoise. 

1871, April 2, Sunday evening. — The second anniversary of the East 
Jamaica Sunday School, of which Abm. De Bevoise is superintendent, 
assii-ted by Wm. Kirbj', was held in church, and drew out an audience 
so lari^e that extra seats had to be brought in. Kev. Mr. Van Slyke 
piesided, Rev. Messrs. Hulst and Lampman ma<le addresses. Mr. 
George L. Powell and Miss De Bevoise taught the singing. Fifty-four 
scholars were on the roll, and an average attendance of thirty-four. — 
L. I. Democrat. 



* The teach&rs paid $17.80 for a wreath, anchor aud tweuty-eight small hand-bouquets 
at the funeral. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 147 

1871, May 18. — The Consistory room has been underijoing an overhaul- 
ing, About S500 has been expended in making the Sunday School room 
pleasanter. The gallery has been fitted with sliding glass doors for an 
infant class-room, a new book case for the library, a new nook and 
elegant railing. — L. I. Farmer. 

1871, June 4. — On Sunday fifteen persons were admitted 
to the church by confession, and four by certificate. 

1871, June 22. — A. strawberry festival of the Sunday School 
of the Reformed Church was held at the Town Hall, after- 
noon and evening. Tables furnished with ice cream, iced 
tea and coffee, lemonade, fruits, cakes, confectionery, flowers, 
fancy articles, <fec. $233.06 realized. 

1871, July 2. — Sunday evening, Mr. Van Slyke began his 
lectures on Genesis and Geology. 

1871, Aug. 15. — The Reformed Church, is undergoing sundry repairs 
and improvements, and will be closed from September 3 to October 15. 
The inside is to be newly frescoed, gas-light chandeliers are to be placed 
in the centre of the ceiling, the side and pulpit lamps removed, &c.* — 
L. I. Democrat. 

1871, Oct. 22. — Collection for relief of the Holland suffer- 
ers, in Michigan, $225. 

1871, Nov. 13. — Surprize. The friends of our good Domine Van Slyke 
gave him money to buy a gold watch, and Nov. 20, the youth of the 
Sunday School gave him money to buy a chain. The young misses had 
provided abundant refreshments and another pleasant evening was spent 
at the parsonage. — L. I. Democrat, Nov. 21. 

1871, Nov. 14. — Long Island Bible Society met in church 
at 11 P. M. 

1871, Nov. 30, Thanksgiving. — The places of business in 
the village were closed at 10 o'clock, and Presbyterians and 
Methodists joined in worship in the Reformed Church, where 
Mr. Van Slyke preached, and Messrs. Lampman and Hill 
took part in the services. The day was cold and windy. 
In the afternoon the fair of the East Jamaica Sunday School 
was held in the Town Hall. 



* Paid for frescoing church, $750 ; repairing roof, §90 ; table f 12.30 ; four reflectors, 
$187.50 ; carpenter, $660.90. 



148 HISTORY OF THE 

1871. — The Christinas festivities of the Sunday School were held in tlie 
Consistory room, on Saturday, December 23. Mr. E. A. Erinckei'hoff 
addressed the children, on Christmas and the Christmas tree. The 
scholars thanked Mrs. B. for two beautiful tablets and scripture texts. — 
L. I. Democrat. 

1871, Dec. 27.— Mr. Van Sljke's donation party. Ee- 
ceipts, $700. 

1872, Jan. 7-14— Week of prayer. 

1872, Feb. 1, Thursday evening. — The Reformed Church 
of Queens united with Jamaica in celebrating the Centennial 
of the Reff^rnied Church in the United States, Mr. Van 
Slyke read the 48th Psalm, and Messrs. Chas. J. Shepard 
and Thos. Nichols made addresses. Closed with singing the 
557tli hymn. 

1872, Feb. 22. — Mr. Van Slyke gave a temperance lecture 
in the Town Hall. 

Jamaica, Feb. 24. 1872. 
To the Superintendent, Teachers and Scholars of the Reformed Dutch Sunday^ 
School : 
My Dear Friends : — If it affords you as much pleasure to receive, as 
it does me to give you the organ, which is now in your possession, I shall 
be well satisfied ; and I earnestly pray that your voices maj' oft mingle 
with its tones in praise and tlianksgiving unto the One who loves us and 
gave Himself for us. Your friend, 

Mrs. E. a. Brinckerhoff. 

1872, March 3, Sunday evening. — The Sunday School had 
its anniversary in church. Stirring addresses were made 
by Messrs. Van Slyke and Lampman. A full house and 
fine singing. 

1872, Easter. — The choir had prepared suitable anthems ; 
but Mr. Van Slyke was too unwell to come out. No services. 

1872, Aug. 6. — The Sunday School, accompanied by the 
Jamaica Brass Band, had their picnic at Eldert's Grove, 
Rockaway.* 

.* The expenses were : 6 cars, $150 ; music, $26 ; printing, $6 ; help, $2 ; for the grove 
and water, $5; tea, $3.24; 2 bushels peanuts, $7.40 ; 80 quarts ice cream, $28. Tickets 
sold, $198.51 ; ice cream, $28.65 ; leaving a deficit of $2.28. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



149 



1872, Oct. 30, Wednesday.— Classis met in Church. 

1872, Dec. 24. — The scholars of the Sunday School met 
with their friends, on Tuesday afternoon, in the Consistory 
Room, where were singing, short addresses, and gifts to each 
scholar. After the fruits of the Christmas tree were shaken 
off, a stocking was observed on a limb, which was found to 
contain ten new ten-dollar bills, a gift to the school from 
Mrs. E. A. B.* 

1872.— Centennial subscription to pay off the Church's 
indebtedness, being the hundredth year of the separation of 
the Reformed Church in America from that of Holland. 



Amberman, Isaac $125 

Amberaian, Nicholas. 75 

Amberman, Cornelius 56 

Amberman, John D 55 

Baiseley, David ... 300 

Brush, Eicharii 300 

Bennett, George 125 

Bergen, Ann 120 

Baiseley, Michael .... 115 

Bergen, Eklert 110 

Bailey, Cornelius Kip 50 

Bennet, Remsen 25 

Baylis, David 40 

Baylis, Charles S 25 

Brinckerhoff, A.bm 5 

Brinckerhoff, George L 35 

Biinciierhoff, John H 50 

Brincljerhoff, John N 50 

Brinckerhoff, E. A 2,000 

Covert, John 35 

Covert, Misses M. and E 25 

Champlin, Julia A 5 

Covert, Luke 10 

De Bevoise, Abra 300 

De B-voise, Chas. J 200 

De Bevoise, Andrew 100 

Degrauw, Aaron A. 100 

De Bevoise, John 50 

Durland, William 10 

Duryea, Martin 1 100 



Eldert, Aletta 50 

Fredericks, Thos. H 115 

Fredericks, James R 10 

Frederick Ludlum.. 25 

Foster, William 50 

Griffin, Abm.' 25 

Gulick, Francis F 65 

Harris, Charles H 60 

Hagner, Miss Phebe 20 

Herriman. J. Augustus 290 

Hendrickson, Jas. C. 250 

Hendrickson, Daniel 125 

Hendrickson, Susanna. 60 

Hendrickson, Daniel B 10 

Hendrickson, Maria L 10 

Hendrickson, John S 2 

Hendrickson, Abm. A 25 

Hendrickson, Abm. B 25 

Hendrickson, Peter C 25 

Husson, Thos. T 25 

Johnson, Eliza 15 

Johnson, A. Ditraars 10 

Lott, Hendrick 100 

Lewis, James T 25 

Lott, Phebe 65 

Lott, James 50 

Ludlum, Nicholas 110 

Nostrand, William 50 

Nostrand, Rem 10 

Nostrand, John H 5 



* Eight dollars was paid for ChrLstmas greens to decorate the room. Flowers were dis- 
played ou the pulpit when Mr. Van Slyke preached his first sermon as pastor. 



150 



HISTORY OF THE 



Stoothoff Jaraes 

Stockholm, Harnian J. 
Suydaiii, Daniel R ... 
Van Sicleii, Garret K. . 



25 
100 

60 
250 



Van Slyke, John G 100 

Van Nostrand, Phebe 60 

Van Siclen John . 50 

Van Nostrand, John S 50 

Van Nuyse, Ann E 2 

Van Dine, John 70 

Williamson, Win. S 220 

Van Siclen, Mrs. Ida 25 

Van Siclen, James. 20 

Van Siclen, Ditmars 15 



Polhemus, Theodorus 500 

Phraner, Wni . . . 3l)0 

Powell, Harvey 5 

Purdy, David J 25 

Remsen, Abm ... 110 

Rogers, Theodore 50 

Ryder, Stephen 110 

Ryder, Stephen Jr 50 

Ryder, John 20 

Ryder, James . . 10 

Stockholm, Ann 151) 

Stoothoff, Wm. C 100 

Snedeker, Isaac 125 

Stoothoff, Wm. W 10 

Stoothoff, Mrs. Sarah 10 

By the first subscription, $8,493 was raised, bat this sum 
not being sufficient to wipe out the debt, Mr. E. A Briuck- 
erhcff, who had ah'eady given $2,000, offered to add another 
thousand, provided the congregation would make up a like 
sum. This was done, but we have not the names nor amount 
of money obtained at the second going around. A part of 
the original subscribers added on to their former contribu- 
tions, so that on New Year's Day, 1874, the church was free 
of debt. 

1873, Jan. 7, Taesdiy. — By recommendation of the Evan- 
gelical Alliance, there will be union prayer meetings every 
niglit this week, alternately in the Consistory room and in 
the Presbyterian lecture room. 

1873, Jan. 15 — Donation paity to Mr. Van Slyke. 

1873, Feb. 22 — The Sunday School sent a contribution 
for tlie education of soldiers' orphans at the National Home- 
stead, Gettysburg. 

1873, Mar. 9.— The anniversary of the Sunday School was 
held in the church and drew together a crowded house. JXsv. 
Dr. West and Mr. Streeter addressed the children. The 
death of Kitty Starr was referred to. One hundred and 
sixty volumes have been added to the library, and seventy- 
five given to another school. Each scholar was presented 
with a book. 

1873, April 15. — Classis met in church. Services at 2^ 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 151 

and 7| P. M. Kev. G. D. Hulst preached on the " Spiritual 
Body." A lively discussion followed in the evening. 

1873, Juue 11. — Sunday School convention in church. 

1873, July 30. — Sunday School picnic to Garret Eldert's 
Grove, Rockaway. 

1873, Aug. 13. — Corner stone of St. Paul's German Evan- 
gelical Church laid. 

1873, Sept. 6. — The Consistory passed resolutions of con- 
dolence and respect for the memory of Wm. Phraner, treas- 
urer, who died September 2 ; and October 13, they appointed 
Isaac Amberman in his stead.* 

1873, Nov. 2.— Collection for sufferers at Memphis, $70. 

1873, Nov. 27. — Thauksj^iving in church. Union services, 
sermon by RriV. Mr. Van Slyke. 

1873. Mrs. E. A. Brinckerhoff was at the whole expense of the Christ- 
mas tree in the Consistory room. Eacli scholar had a handsome box of 
confectionery, and the infant cla^s had dolls and playthings too numer- 
ous to meation. — L. I. Dzmocnd, Dec. 30. 

1874, Feb. 22. — Anniversary of the Sunday School in church, Abm. De 
Bevoise superintendent. Mrs. M. E. Story had charge of the singing. 
Addresses by Mr. Olin and Thos. Rush, both of New York. Good and 
beautiful books were given to the scholars. — L, I. Democrat, Feb. 24. 

1874, Feb 25 and 26. — An apron and necktie fair was held 
in the evening, in the Town Hall, by the ladies of the Re- 
formed Church and Sunday School, realiziug $150. When 
a gentleman bought a necktie he had to treat some lady 
wearing an apron of like pattern, with ice cream or some 
other delicacy. This caused much sport among young and 
old. On the tables were refreshments, fruits and candies. 
Admission, ten cents. 



* The previous treasurprs were James Hendrickson, Henry Story, John Allen and Dit- 
mars Stoothoflf. Mr. Hendrickson destrved well of the church. Formerly the deacons 
actel as treasurers, and when, as sometimes happened, there was a small defli'iency the 

Consistiiry each madt it up from their own pockets. Once there was a larger deficiency 
than usual and Mr. H. assumed the debt. It created a sensation. It was the day of 

small things when a little money went a gieat ways, and a church member could be 
found who contributed only one dollar yearly oward the minister's salary. 



152 HISTORY OP THE 

1874, March 23. — The carpet stolen from the church March 
12, was found, on the information of Edward Kothermel. It 
had been pawned for ^i'^ * 



E hvard Eothermel, indicted for burglary, with liaving on tlie riiglit of 
tlie 12th of March, 1874, entered the Reformed Church, in the village of 
Jamaica, and stole therefrom sixty yards of carpet of the value of S.iO, 
was at the April Term of the Circuit Court sentenced to imprisonment at 
Sing Sing for three years. — L. I. Democrat. 

1871, March 15. — Sunday evening Mr. Yau Sljke gave a 
temperance sermon, from Proverbs xx, 1, which was printed 
in the L. I. Democrat, March 21. 

1874, May 13, Wednesday evening. — Professor De Lau- 
nay gave a lecture in the Consistory room, on the Catacombs 
of Rome. No admission fee ; but a collection at close of 
lecture. 

1874, July 22, Wednesilay. — Picnic of the Sunday School 
to Eldert's Grove, Rockaway, the best grove on the beach. 
A spacious hall has been engaged exclusively for this picnic. 
Isaac Amberman, Stephen Ryder and George L. Powell, 
committee ; Abm. De Bevoise, superintendent. 

1874, Wednesday evening October 14, was the fifth anniversary of the 
wedding of the Eev. Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Van Slyke.f They were invited 
out to tea and did not return to their residence until some time in the 
evening, when they found their house had been taken possession of by 
members of the Reformed Church and a goodly number of ou'siders. 
The clergy were represented by the Rev. Messrs. Lampman and Smith, 
the Rev. W. E. Davis, Manhasset, and the Rev. Mr. Hart of Locust Val- 
ley. The Djmine and his wife proceeded up stairs, to lay aside hat and 
shawl, &c., when they found that the furniture in their bed-chamber hud 
been changed. A splendid blackwalnut bedroom set of furniture, with 
mattress, &c., greeted their astonished vision ; a handsome parlor 
stove was put in the study room, by Mr. George H. Creed; a very ele- 
gant adjustable study chair was given the Pastor and a handsome green 
rep chair was given Mrs. Van Slyke by John D. Amberman ; Miss Briggs 
ctmtributed a fine tub of beautiful flowers; Mrs. Spader gave a dish 

* On discovery of the theft, the Consistory offered a reward of flOO, on conviction of 
the thief, whicli was paid April '20, to two detectives, Holland and Short. 

tThe middle name of the Rov. John Garnsey Van Slyke, D. D., was originally spelled 
Guernsey (not Gurney); but the family now prefer and write it Garnsey. 



FIKST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 153 

of choice flowers ornamented with clothespins ; Elbert N. Remson, 
with an eye to business, sent a wooden meat pounder; a scripture text 
worlied by Willie Starr and other pleasant mementos reminded the 
Dornine that his congregation had come to celebrate his " wooden 
wedding." The ladies had made bountiful provision for the wants of 
the inner man, which was right well enjoyed by all present.— Dejnocraf, 
October 20. 

1874, November 15. — Collection for the German Reformed 
Church in Newtown, $10 ; and July 2, 1876, $26.63. 

1874, December 7.— The Rev. L. H. Gerndt, pastor of St. Paul's Ger- 
man Evangelical Luthern church, thanks the Consistory for their chris- 
tian kindness in allowing them the free use of the Consistory Room for 
an entire year while the congregation was being organized. 

1874, December 13. — Collection for a converted Jew, $10. 

1874, December 26. — On Thursday night thieves effected an entrance 
into the church by cutting out a small piece of glass from a window on 
the east side. They had evidently lit the gas to help them in their 
researches, as the gas was yet burning in the basement when the sexton 
entered the church next morning. Ever^' door had been left open. 
They took the covering from the pulpit and cover of a small Sunday 
school organ standing in the vestibule. Three chairs were piled up by 
the window, and it is supposed they intended to carry them off, but 
were perhaps frightened away. — L. I. Democrat. 

1874, Dec. 27, — Sunday School anniversary. Eeading the 
Scriptures and prayer by Mr. Lampman, addresses by Rev. 
Messrs. Sutplien and Griffis. 

1875, Jan. 31.— Mr. Van Slyke's sermon, "Beautiful Snow." 
1875. — Mr. Van Slyke started for California, April 12 ; 

and gave his next sermon, Sunday, June 6, when the pulpit 
was decorated with flowers and the words " Welcome Home." 
Rev. Abm. Thompson officiated during his absence. On 
Wednesday evening, June 30, Mr. Van Slyke gave an account 
of his trip across the Continent. 

1875, June 17. — The Sunday School had a strawberry fes- 
tival at the Town Hall. 

1875, Aug. 1. — Sunday afternoon Mr. Van Slyke gave an 
address to the children. The evening services were discon- 
tinued during August. 



154 HISTOKY OF THE 

1875, Oct. 10. — Monthly services in church for children, 
at 31 P. M. 

1875, — Christmas festivities in the Consistory room at 3 
P. M., consisting of games, refreshments, singing and ad- 
dresses. 

1876, Feb. 8.— The " Mite Society" gave Mrs. Van Slyke 
a silk dress, at her residence. The ladies had, in September, 
1872, given her a gold watch. 

1876, Feb. — A course of Thursday evening lectures in 
church was begun. 

1876, Feb. 22. — There was a centennial celebration of 
Washington's birthday held in the Town Hall, in aid of the 
Sunday School. About 1,200 persons visited it, and $350 
were realized. In the four corners of the room stood refresh- 
ment tables, representing the cooking of the New England, 
Western, Middle and Southern States, respectively. On the 
central tables were placed old-time relics, books, guns, 
swords, china-ware, household implements, shoes, buckles, 
&c. The lady attendants wore old-time costumes. The 
" Republican Court " was a sort of tableau, representing the 
ladies and gents of Washington's time, dressed in character. 
The close of the centennial tea party was followed by a 
promenade and dancing. 

1876, March 5. — Sunday School anniversary in church. 
A beautiful book was presented to Miss Laura E. Brinckerhoff, 
organist. 

1876, April 16, Easter. — Mr. Van Slyke had a sermon on 
" The Resurrection." In the evening were union services in 
church. 

1876, June 3. — The Consistory appoint a committee to con- 
fer with the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches to apply 
to the proper Board and show tlie necessity of closing the 
liquor saloons in the village on Sundays. 

1876, July 2. — It being centennial year, Mr. Van Slyke 
gave a historical discourse on the first Reformed Church of 
Jamaica, which was published in a pamphlet of 43 pages. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 155 

1S76. — The Sunday evening services in church were sus- 
pended from July 9 to Sept. 3. 

1876, Nov. 25.— Paid $110 for painting the church. 

1876, Nov. 15. — Mr. Van Slyke reported to Consistory that 
he had accepted a call to Kingston, and asked them to unite 
with him in applying to Classis for a dissolution of the Pas- 
toral relation. 

1876, On Sunday evening, Decembers, the Rev. Mr. Van Slyke concluded 
his labors and preached his farewell sermon. The church was crowded 
by an attentive and interested audience. No service was held in the 
Presbyterian Church, so that all who desired, might attend. The text 
chosen was the 14th verse of the 13th chapter of 2nd Corinthians : " The 
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion 
of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." The sermon consisted of an able 
and clear exposition of the text and the doctrines involved in it, and 
then a brief review of the past six years and a most touching appeal to 
the congregation to persevere in the good work in which they were en- 
gaged. — L. I. Democrat, Dee. 5. 

1876, The German Lutheran Church of this village having applied some 
time since to be received under the care of the North Classis of Long 
Island that body has decided to grant the request, upon condition that 
the name " Lutheran" be dropped, and that the church shall agree to 
conform to the customs and usages of the Reformed Church in America, 
as well as to receive its standard of doctrines and declare themselves 
willing to submit to its government. — L. I. Farmer, Dec. 14. 

1876, Dec. 27. — The Sunday School held a sociable, in the 
afternoon and evening. A table was spread with cakes, 
sandwiches, &c. The children played games, and just before 
going home, each received a paper of candies and an orange. 

1877, Jan. 7-14. — The week of prayer, appointed by the 
Evangelical Alliance. 

1877, Jan. 14. — When the people came to church on Sun- 
day they found the door locked and no fire made.* The sex- 



* Among the sextons not named were : John Bennet, 1S33 ; Elias B. Hendrickson, 1846; 
Ferdinand S. Snedeker, 1852 ; James S. Snedeker, 1863 ; Erasmus Peterson, 1866 ; Eldert 
Conklin, 1877 ; Benj. F. Everitt, 1879. Among the boys who blew the organ were : Isaac 
Simouson, Jr., and Thos. Snedeker, 1852 ; Isaac S. Waters, 1858 ; John Snedeker, 1860 ; 
Chas. Peal, 1861 ; Robert Ham, 1863 ; Thos. McGlrt, 1866 ; Chas. Peterson, 1868 ; Thos. 
H. Carman, 1871; Fred'k Ham, 1873; Wm. Darby, 1874; Walter Brush, 1882; John A. 
Powell, 1883. 



156 HISTORY OF THE 

ton, EJward Peterson, had left for parts uuknovvn, without 
giving notice. 

1877. — The anniversary of the Sunday School under Abrn. 
De Bevoise, superintendent, was held in the church, Feb. 25, 
and drew a large congregation together, many being obliged 
to stand for want of seats. Addresses were made by Rev. 
Wm. H. De Hart, of New York, and Mr. Bungay, of Brook- 
lyn. Each scholar was presented with a book. Miss Ella 
Brush received the prize for punctual attendance, having 
been present at 53 sessions of the school during the year. 

After the resignation of Mr. Van Slyke, Martin G. John- 
son, James C. Hendrickson and Stephen Ryder were re- 
quested to look for a suitable pastor. On their recommenda- 
tion the Rev. Wm. H. De Hart* was invited to preach on 
Sunday, Feb. 25, 1877. At night he took charge of the 
Sunday School anniversary services in church. Many from 
other churches were present. At a joint meeting of the Con- 
sistory and congregation, March 6, he was unanimously called 
at a salary of $1,600 per year with parsonage. Abm. De 
Bevoise went to New York next day and presented the call 
which was accepted by Mr. De Hart. 

iNSTALiiATiON. — Thursday afternoon. May 3, 1877, the Kev. Wm. H. 
De Hart was installed pastor of the Ref.irined Cliurch in this village. 
The church was well filled iinJ the exercises were of an interestin;^' char- 
acter. Around and about the pulpit was a lar^ce quantity of rare and 
beautiful flowers. The Rev. M. L. Haynes, of Astoria, presided. An alle. 
eloquent and instructive sermon was preached by t'.ie Rev. O. E. Cobb, 
of Flus ling. The charge to the pastor, full of valuable suggestions and 
earnest thought, was delivered by the Rev. E. S. Fairchild, of College 
Point, and the charge to the pt'ople was delivered by the Rev. J. G. Van 
Slyke, the former Pastor. Like all of Mr. Van Slyke's efforts, it was log- 
ical, well considered and effective. The new pastor starts under the 
most favorable auspices and we doubt not that in his hands the large and 
influential congregation over which he presides, will prove a power for 
good in our community. — L. I. Democrat. 

1877, May 6. — Mr. De Hart preached his opening sermon : 

*Wm.H. De Hart was born at New Brunswick, 1837; graduated at Rutgers College, 
ISC'), and at the Theological Seminary 1868. He was at North and South Hampton, Penn., 
1868-71, and in the Knox memorial chapel, N. Y.,1871-7, when he was called to Jamaica. 




^x^r^/t^i 



^^i^z^^rT^ 



Artofcype, 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 157 

" Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business." 
The congregation was large and well pleased. 

1877, May 28, Monday.— Pleasant surprise. Rev. Mr. De 
Hart was visited by about forty ladies and gentlemen of the 
Sunday School of his former charge in New York City. They 
had a good time and returned in a special car, at 11 P. M., 
pleased to find their former pastor so pleasantly situated. 

1877, Aug. 1. — There was a union picnic of the Reformed 
and Methodist churches, by ten steam-cars and a steam- 
barge to the Raritan Beach Grove. There were no evening 
services during August. 

1877, Dec. 16. — Collection for repairing tlie church, $85.91 . 

1877, Dec. 25. — The present pulpit Bible was presented 
by Miss Ann Bergen. Consistory vote that the former pul- 
pit Bible, presented by Rev. Wm. L. Johnson, D. D., be de- 
posited with the church records and relics at the parsonage. 

1878, Jan. 27. — Mr. De Hart began a series of sermons to 
working men. Jan. — $479.50 were expended on furniture, 
which is to belong to the two western parlors of the par- 
sonage. 

1878, Feb. 7. — Temperance meeting in the Town Hall, all 
the pastors of the village were there. 

1878, Easter Day. — Mr. De Hart had an appropriate ser- 
mon, morning and evening. 

1878. — The anniversary of the Sunday School of the Reformed Church 
was held Sunday evening, June 9, in the church which was crowded with 
an interested audience. The pulpit was surrounded by bright and hand- 
some flowers, whose fragrance filled the church. The singing by the 
children, under the direction of Mr. E. C. Carpenter, was excellent and 
reflected credit upon the leader. Miss Laura E. Brinckerhoff presided at 
the melodeon and aided the singing by her artistic and skillful perform- 
ance. The addresses of the evening were made by. the Rev. Mr. Lamp- 
man and Augustus Treadwell. After this the Rev. Mr. De Hart, in behalf 
of the school, presented to Abraham DeBevoise, its superintendent, a 
handsome ebony cane with a gold head. The report of the school was 
read by Wm. W. Treadwell, the secretary. Books were also presented the 
scholars. Miss Belle Carey presided at the organ and added much to the 
evening's entertainment by her agreeable, pleasant music. 



158 HISTORY OF THE 

1878, June 16. — While the Presbyterian church is being 
repaired, Consistory offer them the use of our church at any 
convenient hour on the Lord's Day ; or invite them to join 
with us in a series of union services, as may be mutually 
agreed on. The Session thanked Consistory not only for 
their kind invitation but for the brotherly spirit evinced 
therein ; and conclude to attend the ordinary Sunday ser- 
vices of the Reformed Church. 

1878, July 18. — Picnic of the Sunday School to Oriental 
Grove. 

1878, Sept. 15. — Collection for sufferers by yellow fever, 
$231.32. 

1878, Oct. 27, Sunday evening. — A union temperance meet- 
ing in church. 

1878, Nov. 28. — Thanksgiving observed in church. Union 
services. Rev. Mr. Lampman preached. 

1878. — The officers of the Reformed Church have concluded to try and 
make their audience room more cheerful in the evening by placing three 
suspended double-coned i-eflectors in the places of the nameless ones that 
have been there for several years. Those removed never gave satisfac- 
tion, but for several reasons they were allowed to remain until the pres- 
ent time. There will be three reflectors, one in the centre of the ceiling, 
containing thirty-six jets ; one over the pulpit, and one over the gallery, 
each with twelve jets. There will also be a smaller one in the vestibule. 
The work is being done by J. T. Lewis, and will be completed this week. — 
L. /. Farmer, Dec. 19. 

1878, Dec. 3.— The officers of the Mite Society are Mrs. 
Aaron A. Degrauw, president ; Mrs. S. L. Spader, vice-presi- 
dent ; Mrs. C. H. Harris, secretary, and Mrs. Stephen Ryder, 
treasurer, with a visiting ^committee of ladies. 

1878, Dec. 30. — Sunday school exercises in church. Ad- 
dress by Rev. J. A. Davis, of Brookville. 

The Reformed Church, of this village, was decked with Christmas greens 
on Sunday, December 29, and presented a beautiful sight. This was in 
anticipation of the Sunday School festival on Monday night. Some years 
ago such a sight would have given offence to some over sensitive people ; 
but now it was received with good-will and pleasure. Time works great 
(changes and this is the era of charitj' and christian fellowship. Mr. De 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 159 

Bevoise, the superintendent of the school deserves and was accorded 
great praise for liis labor, skill and taste in arranging the adornments in 
the church.— L. /. Democrat, Dec. 31, 1878. 

1879, February 22. — The ladies' fair in the Consistory room 
on Saturday, owing to the storm was continued on Monday 
afternoon and evening. The proceeds ($150) are to be used 
for fitting up the Sunday School room. 

1879. — The Communion Services in the churches of our village, Sunday, 
March 2, were of a peculiarly interesting character, For nearly two 
months the Reformed and Presbyterian Churches have nightly held 
Union prayer meetings under the care of the pa-stors, the Rev. Messrs. De- 
Hart and Lampman. These meetings were closed last Friday evening. 
At the Reformed church nineteen persons united with the church — four 
on certificate and fifteen by profession of their faith.* — L. I. Democrat, 
March 4, 1879. 

On Easter day at the Reformed Church an appropriate sermon was de- 
livered by the Pastor, Rev. Wm. H. De Hart, from the 24th chapter of 
St. Luke, last clause 5th verse "Why seek ye the living among the dead." 
The congregation was full. The display of flowers was extensive and 
beautiful. The music by the choir, was appropriate to the occasion 
celebrated. — L. I. Democrat, April 15, 1879. 

1879. — The anniversary exercises of the Reformed Sunday School were 
held on Sunday evening June 8. The church was trimmed with flowers 
and was well filled with the friends of the children. The singing was 
excellent, especially the song sung by the Infant Class. Short addresses 
were made by the Rev. Wm. H. Phraner, Rev. Mr. Lansing, of Mohawk, N. 
Y., and the Rev. W. H. DeHart which were interesting. A handsome book 
was presented to Mr. Isaac Amberman, from his scholars, as a testi- 
monial of their kind regards towards him as their teacher. From the 
report read by the Secretary, the school seems to be in a prosperous con- 
dition. The exercises closed with a song entitled "Good Night," sung 
by the children of the school. 

1879, February 5, Wednesday.— Rev. Mr. DeHart's do- 
nation party. Stormy and bad traveling. Receipts, $170 
and other presents. 

1879, May 30. — The Sunday Observance Society was 
formed. 

* For the Communion there are four silver cups (goblet-shaped), two of which it is 
said were presented by Mrs. James Foster. Two were purchased by the ladies, in Mr. 
Alliger's pastorate. The tankard and four plates are of a baser metal. X baptismal 
bason in a closet under the pulpit was burned with the church in 1857. 



160 



HISTORY OF THE 



1879, July 30. — Sunday School picnic to Oriental Grove. 

1879. — A garden party under charge of the ladies of the 
Reformed Church, will take place at the Judd mansion and 
grounds, now owned by A. A. Degrauw, Jr., on Wednesday, 
October 1, afternoon and evening. Games of croquet, arch- 
ery, <fec., will be provided on the lawn which will be illumi- 
nated in the evening. Ice cream, lemonade and other re- 
freshments will be served in the parlors of the mansion. 
Supper from 6 to 10. P. '^L — Admission to the grounds, ten 
cents. If stormy, the party will occur the first fair day. 

Our friends of the Reformed Church Sunday School are making some 
notable improvements in the Consistory room, on Union avenue, adding 
class rooms, painting the walls, putting two large windows on each side 
near the front of the building, and otherwise improving the building, 
both inside and out. Chairs are to occupy the place of the old wooden 
settees. The sessions of the school are held in the Chui-ch during the 
progress of the work. The cost of repairs was $1,20U — L. I. Democrat, 
September 16, 1879. 

1879, October 27. — Additional subscriptions for painting 
and repairing the Consistory Room. 

Martin G. Johnson $25 

Peter C. Hendrickson 25 

Stephen Kyder 10 

Harman J. Stockholm 10 

Rev. W. H. DeHart 25 

Isaac Amberman 25 

Cornelius K. Bailey 10 

Charles H. Harris 10 

Martin I. Duryea 10 

Abraham DeBevoise 25 

Ditmars Eldert 10 

James C. Hendrickson 25 

Daniel Hendrickson 10 

Thomas H. Fredericks 10 

Miss Ann Bergen 10 

GeorgeBennett 25 ^^^_^^ ^3^5 

1879, December 30. — Christmas exercises by the scholars 
and teachers of the Sunday School, this evening. Speaking 
recitations, singing and distributing Christmas gifts. — All 
are welcome. 



Nostrand & Remson $10 

Hendrick Lott 10 

Miss Phebe Hagner 5 

James Van Sielen 10 

James R. Fredericks 5 

Abm. Griffin .. . 5 

William C. Stoothoff 5 

John H. Brinckerhoff 10 

George L. Brinckerhoff . 5 

John Ryder 5 

Isaac Snedelcer 5 

George L. Powell 5 

Susan Hendrickson 10 

Phebe Lott 10 

Wm. S. Williamson 20 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 161 

1879, December 31. Mr. DeHart, at the Watch-night 
services in the Methodist Church, preached from Psalms 
cxix, 59, 60. 

1880, Jan. 6-10. — Week of prayer. The union services, 
( Tuesday evening in the Consistory room), were continued 
another week. 

1880, Feb. 17.— Mr. De Hart lectured on " Water and the 
gases of which it is composed," for the benefit of the Meth- 
odist Church. 

1880, April 20, Tuesday. — Classis met in the church and 
had their refection at the parsonage. 

1880, Easter Day. — The pastor, Rev. Mr. De Hart gave an appropriate 
sermon. The pulpit was surrounded with beautiful potted flowers.* 
The choir under the leadership of Mr. James Phraner rendered a grace- 
ful Easter carol. In consequence of the storm the evening services were 
omitted. — L. I. Democrat, March 30. 

REFORMED CHURCH. 

1880, May 2. — The Rev. Mr. De Hart on Sunday May 2, announced to 
his congregation, that just three years had passed since he was called to 
be their pastor, and during that time 72 persons had united with the 
church, 20 members had been removed by death, and 4 dismissed; 34 
persons had been baptised ; he had officiated at 26 weddings and 40 funer- 
als. During this time he had made more than 700 calls. There are 141 
families connected with the church, and a membership of 287. He then 
took his text from II Corinthians, v, 20, "In Christ's stead." He said in 
substance : "when one man falls another Is appointed to take his place. 
The Great Head of the church has appointed others to take up his work 
and carry It on, and the christian minister Is to go to the Book as the only 
place containing the word of life for the Instruction of his people ; there 
the only way of salvation Is made known. He does not stand In the pul- 
pit to discuss the political aspects of the day, nor to tell men how to do 
their daily business. Christ preached against the sins of the people, so 
must the minister, he Is to preach ' In Christ's stead,' and in doing so 
he preaches with authority, and here Is where the pulpit differs from the 
platform, the latter being only the authority of men. It Is also the duty 
of the people to hear, and to ascertain by searching the Word, If the 
preacher Is really preaching 'In Christ's stead.' " At the close of the 
sermon the pastor said his heart over-flowed with gratitude and thanks- 
giving for spiritual and temporal blessings he had enjoyed during his 

* Flowers (it is said) were first displaj'ed on the pulpit, Nov. 6, 1870. 



162 HISTORY OF THE 

pastorate, and asked forgiveness for anything he Iiad said or done where 
men differed ; but not fpr any word spolien in Christ's stead, as his 
minister and in his name, and hoped that tlie blessings of the past would 
continue in tlie future. L. 

1880, The Sunday School connected with the Reformed Church, held 
its anniversaiy, Sunday evening, June 13. The church was more than 
crowded, and a large number were unable to obtain admittance. Mr. J. 
B. Everitt, gratuitously loaned the use of his camp stools, but even then 
all were not seated. The exercises consisting of speaking, singing and 
the presentation of books, wei*e of an interesting character. Prom the 
report of the Secretary, the school is now in a prosperous condition, 
Mr. E. C. Carpenter, the school's musical director,* deserves credit for 
the musical part of the programme. Addresses were made by the pastor 
of the church, Rev. William H. De Hart, and others. Miss Laura E. 
Brinckerhoif presided at the organ. — Democrat. 

1880, July 21.— The Sunday School joined with that of 
East Jamaica in a picnic to Harbor Hill. 

1880, October 19. — The funeral of Kev. Julius Hones was 
held in church, services in English and German. t 

1880, December 29. — Sunday School festival in the Con- 
sistory Eoom. 

1881, Jan. 4. — Week of prayer. Union services, Friday 
and Saturday in the Consistory room. 

1881. — The ladies of the Reformetl Church, Jamaica, will hold a festi- 
val and bazaar for the benefit of the Sunday School connected with said 
church, in the Town Hall, on Monday evening, Feb. 21, 1881, and Tues- 
day afternoon and evening, Feb. 22, when a large variety of u&eful and 
fancy articles, confectionery and fruits of various kinds will be offered 
for sale. Also lemonade and ice cream of all flavors. A bountiful sup- 
per will be provided for all who may give them a call. Supper fifty 
cents ; admission, ten cents. Profits, $260. 

1881. — WEiiii ATTENDED.— We Icani that the pi*aise meeting held in the 
Reformed Church, this village, Sunday evening, Feb. 20, was well attended 
and interesting in every respect. — L. I. Democrat, Feb. 22. 



* Among the choristers were : Thomas Bradlee, 1839 ; Abraham Duryea aitd John C. 
Metcalf 1853 ; Lendall F. Pratt, 1857; James Henrie Young, 1860; William Tillinghast 
1871 ; William L. Tomlius. 1872; S. H. Newbury, 1875 ; E. C. Carpenter, 1877 ; Richard H. 
Baggot, 1879; William F. Wyckoff, 1882. 

f 1881, March 1.— Rev. Henry Freeh was called to be pastor of St. Paul's German Re- 
formed Church. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 163 

1881, Easter Day.— The interior of the Reformed Church, was most 
splendidly decorated with flowers and evergreens, a memento for the 
Easter exercises. The pastor, Rev. Wm. H. De Hart, preached an able 
sermon. — L. I. Democrat, April 19. 

1881.— Last Sunday being Pentecost or Whit Sunday, the attendance 
at our several places of worship was larger than usual, for the day was 
bright and cheery. In the Reformed Church the Lord's Supper was cel- 
ebrated and three persons added to the communion. At the preparatory 
services on Saturday four infants, first borns, were christened, and on 
Sunday, before the administration of the Sacrament, two persons were 
baptized. — L. I. Democrat, June 7. 

1881. — As Sunday evening, June 12, was a most delightful and pleasant 
one, the people from this village and also from abroad vizited the Re- 
formed Sunday School anniversary, in large numbers. Long before the 
time to commence, the church was crowded with people; many being 
compelled to stand in the aisles and at the back part of the church 
unable to obtain a seat. The vestibule was also crowded with anxious 
ones looking in vain for a seat. Nearly everybody late visited the gal- 
lery but returned as there were no vacant seats to be found, even there. 
The Rev. Lewis Lampman, of the Presbyterian Church, filled the place 
of the pastor, Rev. Mr. De Hart, who was detained home through illness. 
He made a short opening address and then the Rev. Thos. Stephenson, 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, made a fervent prayer. Tlie singing 
by the school was delightful, under the training of Miss Jennie Spader, 
who also lead the singing. Miss Laura E. Brinckerhoff presiding at the 
organ, brought out some sweet music to sing by. Miss Fannie Ryder 
sang a solo, entitled "He leadeth me home." Mr. Lampman then intro- 
duced the Rev. Mr. Stephenson who made an able and appropriate ad- 
dress to both old and young. The secretary, Mr. Wm. W. Tread well, read 
the annual report which showed the school to be in a prosperous condi- 
tion, with 162 scholars and teachers, and a balance of over $200 in the 
treasury, over all expenses. The report showed that two of the members 
have been present during every session of the year. The school may 
well feel proud of their leader (the superintendent) Mr. Abraham De 
Bevoise, who always has and yet takes a great interest in the welfare of 
the smaller ones. After a short address by the Rev. Mr. Lampman, who 
.spoke especially to the boys, on "Dogs." "Boys, I once owned a dog," 
said he, "but finding that he was a thief, a liar, and a murderer, I was 
compelled to kill him." The little boys seemed to pay a strict attention 
to all that was said concerning " the dogs." Next came the distribution 
of books to the scholars and teachers. Mrs. Chas. H. Harris was sur- 
prised by her scholars and presented with two beautifully bound and 
printed volumes entitled "Life and Works of Christ," by Dr. C. Geikie, 
as a slight token of tlieir appreciation of her services as a teacher. The 
floral display was grand, not only just around the pulpit, but all around 



IGi HISTORY OF THE 

the church, were hung handsome baskets of choice plants, which filled 
the building with rich perfume. On each side of the pulpit was placed a 
handsome cross and an anchor, made of flowers. Camp stools were 
placed in the aisles and given to those wishing to change their position, 
a short time after the service'? commenced, by the sexton, Mr. Benjamin 
F. Everitt. — L. I. Democrat. 

18S1. — Tlie largest excursion from Jamaica this season, was that of the 
Keformed Sunday School, on Wednesday August 10 to Starin's Glen 
Island. Six passenger cai-s, all well filled, left the depot in this village 
for Hunter's Point, where the commodious barge "Arthur" lay in wait 
to convey the excursionists to their destination. Glen Island reached, 
the children found many things to amuse themselves with, while the 
older ones roamed about finding pleasure on every hand. The commit- 
tee in charge deserves much credit for the manner in which everything 
passed off. We learn that 800 tickets were sold and about $85 was- 
cleared over and above expenses. The sail down the bay was delightful. — 
L. I. Democrat, Aug. 16, 1881. 

18S1. — Thursday, September 8, by authority of the Gov- 
ernor's proclatnatioa, was observed as a day of prayer for 
President Garfield's recovery from his wounds. In the 
eveniug a union service was held in the Consistory room, 
which was largely attended. 

1881, Sept. 26, Monday.— Mr. De Hart spoke in the Pres- 
byterian Church, which was draped in mourning on the occa- 
sion of President Garfield's death. 

1881, Nov. 24. — Thanksgiving Day was appropriately celebrated in our 
village. Union services were held in the Reformed Church in the morning, 
in whicli the members of the Methodist, Reformed and Presbj-terian con- 
gregations united. The Rev. Messrs. De Hart, Lampman and Steven- 
son took part in the services. The sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. 
Lampman, was an earnest, able and practical one. The colleetion taken 
up was for the benefit of the Howard (colored) Orphan As3'lum, of 
Brooklyn. 

1881, Dec. 28. — The children of the Sunday School had a 
Christmas tree and games in the Consistory room, and bas- 
kets of candies to carry home. 

1882, Jan. 1-7. — The Presbyterian, Reformed and Methodist Churches 
of the village observed the week of prayer by union services. During 
the week two prayer meetings were held in the lecture room of each 
church, the pastors leading them in turn. The exercises were Interesting, 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 1G5 

and the attendance good. On Sunday evening the three churches cele- 
brated the Lord's Supper together, in the Reformed Church, and although 
the evening was very unpleasant there was a good attendance. The 
opening exercises were conducted by Eev. Lewis Lampman. Rev. Thos. 
Stephenson addressed the congregation. He referred to the pleasant cir- 
cumstances under which they met as brethren in Christ ; that although 
differing in some matters, yet they were sliowing to the world their virtual 
unity by coming together at the Lord's table. In closing he spoke briefly 
of the nature of the service in which they were about to engage. Rev. 
W. H. De Hart administered the bread. Before doing so, he read a por- 
tion of the Liturgy of the Reformed Church, the congregation uniting in 
repeating the Apostles' Creed. Rev. Lewis Lampman administered the 
wine, and delivered the closing address. The oificers of tlie churches 
assisted in the distribution of the elements, four officers having been se- 
lected from each church for the performance of this duty. — L. I. Demo- 
crat, Jan. 10, 1882. 

1882, Jan. 8, Sunday morning. — Anniversary of the Mis- 
sionary Society of the Reformed Church, Mr. De Hart 
preached on missions. 

1882, Jan. 12.— Classical Visitations. — The first of a series of visi- 
tations by committees from the North Classis of Long Island to the 
churches connected with that body, was made to the Reformed Church 
of our village, on Tuesday evening, January 10. The visiting committee 
consisted of Rev. Charles J. Shepard and Elder H. S. Vanderveer, of New- 
town, and Rev. James B. Wilson, of Jericho. The audience was large, 
considering the unpleasant evening, and the services were deeply inter- 
esting. Rev. William H. Phraner offered the invocation, and Rev. Andrew 
Hagenian, of Queens, the prayer. Rev's. Wilson and Shepard delivered 
earnest and impressive addresses, wliich were listened to with close atten- 
tion by the congregation. — L. I. Farmer. 

1882, Feb. 2.— Rev. Wm. E. Griffis, of Schenectady gave 
a lecture in the Consistory room, entitled : " The Dutch have 
taken Holland." 

1882. — On Wednesday evening, March 1, in spite of the bad weather, a 
large company of the congregation and friends of the Rev. W. H. De 
Hart made him their annual visit. A very enjoyable evening was spent. 
Besides hearty congratulations and expressions of good will, the faithful 
pastor received various toliens of esteem, together with about $230 in 
money, to which will doubtless be added the remembrances of many 
prevented by the weather and other circumstances from attending.— L. 
I. Democrat. 



166 HISTORY OF THE 

1882, May 2 and 3. — Particular Synod met in church, 
forty or fifty delegates present.* Kev. David Cole, D. D., 
preached, Tuesday evening ; and on Wednesday P. M. the 
sacrament of the Lord's Supper vi^as celebrated. 

1882, June 11. — Anniversary of the Sunday School, in 
church. Addresses by Rev. Mr. Wilhams, of Jamaica, and 
Jeremiah Johnson, of Brooklyn. There was a profusion of 
floral decorations. Each scholar received a prize book. 

1882, June 25, Sunday evening. — Anniversary of Sunday 
Observance Society, was held in church. Union services. 
Rev. Messrs. Williams, Lampmau and De Hart spoke. 
Singing by the united choirs. 

1882, July 20. — Sunday School picnic to Glen Island 
Grove. Music, ice cream and other refreshments on the 
barge. Six hundred persons went ; $100 cleared. 

1882, Nov, 22. — A very pleasant and agreeable evening was spent at the 
recent visit of the congregation and friends of Rev. Win. H. De Hart, 
pastor of the Eefornied Church, on Wednesday evening, November 22. 
As a token of regard for the pastor, donations of about $300 were pre- 
sented him. — L. /. Democrat. 

1882, Nov. 30.— Thanksgiving. 

On Sunday iast, six new members were added to the Reformed Church, 
A childen's service will be held on the afternoon of the first Sunday in 
each month, at the Reformed Church. At such times the ordinary even- 
ing services will be omitted. — Jamaica Standard, Dec. 9. 

The Reformed Sunday School will hold their Christmas festival in the 
Consistory room, on the evening of Wednesday, December 27.— -L. /. 
Democrat, 

1883, Jan. 7-1-i. — The week of prayer wliich began yesterday is one of 
the marked evidences of the progress and unity of the Christian faith. 
Its first general observance began in 1860, and was proposed t)}' a Pres- 
byterian Missionary in India. Since then, the week of prayer is an event 
looked for with deep interest in every land upon the face of the globe, 
where the Christian religion has a foothold. Originally started for tlie 
purpose of interesting Christians in the heathen lands, it has developed 
into a most successful agencj' of destroying sectarianism, and binding 
in closer union all who believe in the Christian religion. The week fol- 

* Alonzo B. Pettit served eighty-five meals to the members of Synod at 50 cent* each. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 167 

lowing the first Sunday in January, summons the whole Christian family 
to one common altar of prayer. Services will be held this evening in the 
Presbyterian lecture room, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings in the 
Consistory room, and on Friday and Saturday evenings in the Methodist 
lecture room. — L. I. Democrat. 

1883, Feb. 6.— The Rev. W. H. De Hart is delivering on Tuesday even- 
ings, in the Consistory room, a course of lectures on "Bible Lands," 
illustrated by colored diagrams. The subject for this evening is " Egj-pt 
and the Bible." — L. I. Democrat. 

1883. — The ladies of the Reformed Church of Jamaica, will hold a 
bazaar in the Town Hall, on Wedne.s^ay afternoon and evening, Febru- 
ary 21, and on Thursday afternoon and evening, February 22. When a 
variety of useful and fanc}' article^, fruits and confectioner3' of various 
kinds, will be offered for sale. Also lemonade and ice cream of all 
flavors. A bountiful supper will be provided for all who may favor us 
with a call. Supper, 50 cents; admission, 10 cents. — L. I. Democrat. 

1883. ^The fair or bazaar of the Reformed Church held at the Town 
Hall, on Wednesday and Thursday last was one of the most successful 
ever held in the village. The ice grotto where lemonade was sold, pre- 
sented a very pretty appeara-nce, imitating ice and snow with great fidel- 
ity. The " Old Lady who Live I in a Shoe," was well represented. The 
"Japanese Tea Party," where the pretty cups and saucers were sold with 
the cup of tea, was a new idea to us. Among the prettiest articles at the 
tables was a banner painted by Miss Maggie Fleury. A beautiful banner, 
contributed by Mrs. Van Wickel was purchased and given to the Rev. 
Mr. De Hart. A pair of panel pictures on plush by the same lady, was 
purchased and presented to Mr. Abraham De Bevoise, the Superintend- 
ent of the Sunday School. The chair made of polished horns, the prop- 
erty' of Mr. Stephen Ryder, was on exhibition, but was not for sale. The 
ice cream department was waited upon by ladies in Quaker dresses. 
There were no lotteries, drawings or chance games. Everything was 
sold at reasonable prices. In place of the usual "grab bag" a "bran 
pie " was substituted, in which small articles were imbedded in bran, 
and for a trifling fee were fished out by the customers. The confec- 
tionery stand was well patronized, and added materially to the profits 
of the fair. The recipe and cook book, "Mites of Help," containing val- 
uable and original recipes, brought in $278.36. The gross receipts were 
$1,078.25. Expenses $224.05, leaving a net profit of $854.20, with some 
books remaining to be sold. — L. I. Democrat. 

1883, March 25, Easter Day. — At the Reformed Church, there was a 
large display of cut and potted flowers. The attendance was good, and 
the Pastor, Rev. Wm. H. De Hart preached a sermon appropriate to 



168 HISTORY OF THE 

Easter. The singing was a prominent featui'e. Miss Jennie Spader sang 
a solo. — L. I. Democrat. 

1883, April 11.— Miss Ann Bergen paid $285.50, a donation, 
for cost of horse sheds in rear of the Consistory room. 

1883. — Tlie anniversary exercises of tlie Reformel Sunday Scliool, tooli 
place at the church on Sunday evening, June 17. The singing by the 
school was excellent. The address of the evening was made by the Kev. 
Mr. De Hart, his subject being "Light," which he illustrated by candles 
of various sizes, explaining how one candle couldn't give more light 
than another, also showing various objects which obstructed light and 
darkened men's minds, such as a v^iislcey bottle, trade dollar, etc. The 
church was tastefully decorated with flowers, and the exercises listened 
to by a crowded house. Si5.81 was collected. — L. I. Democrat. 

1883, July 2J:. — Rev. Mr. De Hart preached his ante-vacation sermon 
last Sunday. He goes to Pennsylvania. Daring August thechurch is to 
be closed for repairs. It is to be painted and a new carpet added.. 

1883. — On Sunday, September 2, the Reformed Church was opened for 
the first time since it had been cleaned, carpeted and renovated. Rev. 
Mr. De Hart celebi'ated the communion and five members were added to 
the church. A new and elegant pulpit,* of solid black- walnut, the affec- 
tionate gift of bereaved parents, has superseded the old one, bearing the 
inscription : 

•'in MemorJam, 

MORRIS FOSDICK DEGKAITW." 

The platform was tastefully decorated with flowers. On the stand be- 
side the minister was a beautiful cross made up also of flowers. The 
pews have been carpeted and painted of a darker color and are much im- 
proved in appearance. The carpet is of comely and pleasing pattern and 
in keeping with the grave simplicity of the church. A burglar ahirm 
has also been introduced. — L. I. Democrat. 



* This memorial pulpit was presented to the churoh by Mr. and Mrs. Aaron A. De- 
grauw. The cornice is richly carved with a series of Gothic arches filled in with the ivy 
vine, under which runs a row of knobs. The cornice is supported in front by coupled 
columns with carved capitals, standing in the corners. At either end of In Memoriam is 
the Trinity leaf. The centre panel is elaborately carved, with Aljjha and Omega, the 
first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, (see Rev. xxii; 13) intertwined with the Passion 
flower vine full of open and half open blossoms. The spandrils of the arch are filled 
with foliage. The arch itself is filled at intervals with carved ball flowers. The base is 
heavily moulded to agree with the pro,iection of the cornice. On a brass plate inserted 
in the top of the pulpit is the following inscription : 

In memory of 

Morris Fosdick Degrauw, 

Son of Aaron A. and Mary E. S. Degrauw, 

Died, January iSth, 1S7S, 

Aged 10 years. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 169 

The four hundreth Lutheran anniversary was observed on Sunday in 
the Reformed Church. On. the pulpit was a profusion of flowers and a 
picture of the great Reformer. Rev. Mr. De Hart gave an outline of 
Luther's life and labors, which was listened to with marked attention. 
One of Luther's noble hymns was sung. In the evening there was a 
union meeting of the Germans and Dutch in the Reformed Church, when 
both pastors officiated to an audience that would have been larger but 
for the stormy weather. — L. /. Democrat, Nov. 13, 188.3. 

1881, Jan. 7-12. — The week of prayer, will be observed by the Presbj'- 
terian, Reformed, and Methodist cthurches. Last evening the first meet- 
ing was held in the lecture room of the Methodist Church, and the meet- 
ing this evening will be held in the same place. . To-morrow and Thurs- 
day evening the services will be held in the Presbyterian lecture room. 
On Friday and Saturday evenings, in the Consistory room. Services 
commence at half-past seven. The services will be under the direction 
of the Pastors of the three churches represented. — L. I. Democrat. 

1884, March 12. — A Young Men's Association was 
formed. 

1884. — The anniversary of the Sunday School connected with the 
Reformed Church, was held on Sunday evening, June 8. The church 
was crowded and the exercises listened to with much interest. The sing- 
ing of the school was excellent, and showed careful ti'aining. The duet 
by Misses Nellie and Jennie Spader and solo by Carrie Everitt were well 
rendered. Addresses were delivered by Rev. Mr. Larapman, and the 
pastor. Rev. Mr. De Hart. The report of the secretary showed the school 
to be in good condition, financially as well as in membership. — L. I. 
Farmer. 

1884, June 8.— Collection for the Sunday School, $44.10. 

1881, Aug. 7. — The new Kiuilding now being erected at East Jamaica, 
for the Reformed Sunday School, is enclosed and rapidly nearing com- 
pletion.* It will have a seating capacity for 450 people, and will cost 
about S2,. 500. Horse sheds have been built in the rear of the grounds, 
and post holes begun for a handsome picket fence around the entire plot. 
It will be completed and ready for services, in November.— L. /. Farmer. 

Rev. Wm. H. DeHart preached a discourse on the Third Commandment 
last Sunday evening. Mr. De Hart has undertaken a very interesting 



* Thos. T. and Josephine Husson (April 22, 1884), for one dollar, conveyed to the 
Reformed Church, a lot 50 by 100 feet, for a Sunday School.— Qweens County Records, 
book 633, 73. 



170 



HISTORY OF THE 



series of discourses on the Comniandments and has ably illustrated those 
which he has already given. — L. I. Fanner, Oct. 2, 1884. 

1884, Oct. 1. — Mari'ied*in church in presence of a large assembly (among 
whom were the Eev. Messrs. Stocking and Rice) by the Rev. Wm. H. 
De Hart, Wm. F. Wyckoff, chorister, to Nellie Spader, organist. The 
ushers were J. L. Wyclioff, E. E. Dayton, A. G. Henderson and J. H. J. 
Stewart. As the newly married couple were returning down the aisle 
flowers were showered upon them from the gallery. They passed 
from the door to their carriage on the east side of the church over a car- 
pet and under an awning. » 

The ladies of the East Jamaica Sunday School will hold a pink bazaar 
and festival, at the new school building. East Jamaica, on Wednesday, 
October 8th, afternoon and evening. There will be for sale fancy goods, 
useful and ornamental ; ice cream and refreshments of all kinds. Supper, 
50 cents ; admission, 10 cents. Conveyances will leave this village, cor- 
ner of Fulton stx'eet and Union avenue (Beers & Cornell's), at 3, 5 and 7 
o'clock P. M. ; returning, leave 4.3a, G.30 and 9.30 o'clock P. M. If the 
weather on the above date should prove stormy, the festival will be con- 
tinued the next day. Proceeds for the benefit of the school. $410.50 
were realized. — L. I. Farmer. 

1884. — A Quaker tea party will be given by the " Steadj'' Gleaners," 
of the Reformed Church on the evening of Thursrlay. October 16, in the 
Sunday School room. Over $70 were realized. 



'■ Names (not elsewhere mentioned) of those who have been 
pew-holders for a longer or shorter time since 1851. 



Abrams, David. 

Adrain, Margaret. 

Allen, John. 

Allen, Wm. 

Badger, A. H. 

Beach, J. M. 

Bergen, David. 

Bergen, G. S. 

Briggs, Jeremiah. 

Brinckerlioff, Joim L. 

Brush, Wm. T. 

Campbell, John A. 

Carpenter, John. 

Champlin, Mrs. Julia A.'Foote, Mr. 



Cobleigh, Daniel. Foster, Wm. A. 

iCortelyou, Mrs. I Gilbert, Dr. C. E. 

; Creed, B. Hendrickson.i Gillet, Mrs. 



j Davis, Wm. D. 
i Decker, Lucas E. 
i Dellert, George 

Douglass, Burdett. 
j Duiland, Smith, 
j Doughty, Benj. W. 

Duryea, Jacob IVJ. 
lEldert, J. H. 
j Everitt, Conrad 

Elmore, James H. 



Guuter, Mr. H. H.- 
Hall, Mrs. 
Hannas, Andrew J. 

' Hardcastle, Lewis. 
Hasbrouck, Jared. 
Hendrickson, Smith 
Herricks, Wm. 

I Hoople, Wm. H. 
Hoyt, George 
Hyatt, Thos. D. 

' Jenkins, Mrs. 



* ''The form for the confirmatiou of marriage before the church," as given in our 
Liturgy is not binding on the minister. By request of the bride, Mr. AUiger, June 18, 
1867, at the marriage in church of Charles H. Harris and Florence Hall, used " The form 
of solemnization of matrimony," contained in the Book of Common Prayer. Mr. 
De Hart used the form drawn up by Uev. Dr. Bethuue. 



FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



171 



Kendrick, Wm. 
Keteltas, Mrs. Rebecca. 
Ketcham, E. B. 
Kissara, Dr. Geo. C. 
Kolyer, John D. 
Lawrence, Thos. 
Lott, Dow S. 
Lott, James H. 
Loudon, George 
Loux, A. J. 
Lowe, Beauman, 
Lowerre, Sam. W. 
Marshall, George. 
Mills, Jesse. 
Miller, Jacob. 
Miller, Thomas. 
Miller, Sarah. 
Miller, Misses. 
Monfort, John. 
Monfort, Henry A. 
Morris, Mrs. E. K. 
Nostiand, George. 
Nostrand, John W. 



Nichols, Lemuel. 
Noyes, O. H. P. 
Quinby, Daniel 0. 
Pettit, Theodore H. 
Powell, Mrs. John 
Powell, Mrs. Samuel. 
Powell, Mrs. Joseph. 
Reeve, Jeduthan. 
Reeve, David S. 
Roe, Henry [his sons]. 
Ryder, James.* 
Schaeffer, Mrs. 
Sealey, Samuel J. 
Simonson, D. H. 
Smith, Geo. R. 
Smith, Abm. H. 
Spader, John L. 
Snedeker, George. 
Starr, Henry W. 
Stebbins, Horatio N. 
Stimpson. Mr. 
Story, Henry. 
Sturdevant, John J. 



Suydam, Hendrick. 
Sweet, Nathaniel* 
Talmage, D. M. 
Terry, Mr. 
Thompson, Mr. 
Tompkins, Thos. 
Tompkins, Mrs.Hannah 
Tyson, Stephen. 
Van Brunt, Tunis. 
Van Dergaw, Cornelius. 
Van Gaasbeck, J. H. J. 
Van Rensselaer, Mrs. 
Van Siclen, Ditmars. 
Van Wicklen, Garret. 
Waldo, Lewis T. 
Weart, Mrs. 
Whitehead, Mrs. 
Whitson, I. Youngs. 
Whitson, Mrs. 
Williamson, Stephen. 
Williamson, Wm. T. 
Williamson, Pet6r S. 
Wyckoff, Rev. Jacob S. 



The present order of worship in the Reformed Church : 

Prelude on the organ, as the minister enters. 

Invocation. * 

Salutation, t 

Reading the Ten Commandments. 

The choir chant: " Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these Thy 
laws in our hearts, we beseech Thee." 

Reading first Scripture Lesson. 

The choir sing: "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the 
Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be ; world 
without end ; Amen, Amen. 

Reading second Scripture Lesson. 

Singing by the congregation. 

Prayer before sermon. 

Singing by the congregation. 

Sermon. 

Prayer after sermon. 

Collection. 

Singing and Doxology by the congregation. 

Benediction. 

Postlude on the organ. 

* James (not John) Ryder and Nathaniel Sweet bought their pews, October, 12, 1859. 
t The salutation is sometimes omitted. 



172 HISTORY OF THE 

ADDITIONAL. 

At the burning of the church (page 117) the Domine was in the belfiy 
doing his best with pails of water, carried up the steeple stairs by the 
boys. The bell rang till the last moment, when it fell with a crash into 
the basement, where it was found all melted. 

The laying of the corner-stone (page 122) consisted in putting a zinc 
box with its contents in a hole, ten inches square and six inches deep, 
hewed out of the stone, and then a slab laid over it ; after which a heavy 
stone was laid on that. The brick walls were about four feet above the 
stone foundation. There was a large gathering of ladies, nifstl}', who 
sat on seats arranged over a floor of loose boards. A stage was erected 
for the speakers, vvith a canvas covering, under which sat the ministers, 
Consistory and building committee. The choir sat on a bench by the 
stage, and sang first: "Let Zion and her sons rejoice," and at the close 
of the addresses sang : "Behold the sure foundation Stone." 

1859, Oct. 16. — On the Sunday after the sale of the pews, it was inter- 
esting to see the people seeking to find their new seats. The Domine's 
text was : "They [the brethren] came to meet us as far as Appii Forum." 

The new bell, costing about $500, was brought from New York on a cart 
with apparatus to hoist it to its place. It was suspended from a frame 
screwed to the floor so as not to shake the tower. It tolled for the first 
time on Sunday, September 4, 1859, at the funeral of Wm. H. Stoothoff, 
a lad who lost his life by a fall in his father's barn. 

1871, Feb. 22. Consistory agree to adopt the " Hymns of the Church." 
When it was flrat %troduced (April 9) it was intended that the choir 
should come down stairs and spread themselves among the people and 
so have congregational singing. The change had no success. 

On page 29, for "two ministers" read " thenew minister ;" and on page 
120, for "Wardens," read "Trustees." 




FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



173 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES FOR A HALF YEAR'S SALARY TO 
DOMINE SCHOONMAKER. 1830. 





£ s. 


Abm. Hendrickson 


... 1 4 


James Hendrickson 


... 1 8 


Daniel Hendrickson.. .. 


8 


Aury Remsen, Sr 


16 


Joliti Bennet, weaver 


8 


Win. Hendrickson 


4 


John J. Bennet 


12 


Bernard us Bennet, Sr 


8 


Bernardus Bennet, Jr. . . 


6 


James Bogart ... 


8 


Ann Bergen 


5 


Gilbert S. Bergen 


4 


Lucas Bergen .. 


4 


Widow Higbie, .......... 


4 


Melaiicton Carpenter. . . . 


4 


Nicliolas Wyckoff 


... 1 4 


Oldfleid Bergen 


8 


Timothy Rhodes 


12 


Benj'n Rhodes 


12 


Mrs. Cortelyou 


8 


John Hegeman 


10 


Nelly Hegeman ... 


2 


Derick Remsen 


8 


George Rhodes 


4 


Abm. D. Remsen 


4 


John Van Nostrand 


12 


John S. Van Nostrand 


4 



George Lowden 4 

John Oakley 12 

Abm. Golder 4 

David Abrahams. 6 

Rem Remsen 6 

Thomas Brush — — 

William Martin 2 

George Bennet 4 

John Rhodes, blacksmith... 4 

Ruth Golder 3 

John D. Ditmis 16 

Isaac Rennet's widow 4 

Mr. Benson 16 

John Wiggins 4 

Remsen Golder 2 

John Golder .... 3 

Charles Fosdick 4 

Wait S. Everitt 16 

Cornelius Amberman 3 

Hendrick Hendrickson 4 

John Remsen 4 

Nathaniel Nostrand 6 

Rem Nostrand 6 

Stephen Mills 4 

Abm. Hendrickson 8 

Margretie Smith 2 

John W. Messenger ....... 8 



Early in 1832, when the church was becoming too small to seat the 
increasing congregation comfortablj', a meeting was called to consider 
the propriety of erecting a new edifice, its size, location, &c., and papers 
were put in circulation to see what encouragement there would be to 
the undertaking. Most of these papers are now lost. The subscription 
money went toward the purchase of a pew, and if over the appraised 
value, it was accounted as a donation to the church. Contributions were 
made by some whose names do not appear as pew holders, viz : Chas. 
Fosdick, SIO; Catharine Hoogland. $5; Ann Hackett, §4; Margaret Hen- 
drickson, milliper, $25 ; John Jones,$5 ; Mrs. Simonson, $15 ; John Wig- 
gins, $13 ; Isaac Skirm, S5. Other names are on the records, as Mrs. 
Corrie, James H. Lodge, Samuel Powell, Abm. D. Snedeker, John Simon- 
son, county clerk; Daniel Smith, Henry and Aury Van Arsdale, Wm. 
Rhodes, Frederick Smith, Johannes Wyckoff's heirs, Capt Cornelius 



174 



THE FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. 



Eldert, Mrs. Harmpe Conklin, Aletta Brinckerhoff. In 1841, Henry 
■Roe took Mrs. Van Lew's seat and in 1844, Mr. Hurry took Peter P. 
Larremore's seat. On page 95, Golden and Peter Bartow should be 
Peter Coleman Bartow; and on pa.'jce 153, December 26, should be Feb. 26. 

Leonanl Cooper, of Booklyn, was paid $15 for a plan and specification 
of the church. 

When the old church was taken down, the materials were sold at auc- 
tion in 128 lots named variously, lumber, timber, boards, shingles, plates, 
posts, sills, roof, stairs, doors, pews, shutters, sashes, box, iron, hinges, 
stove pipe, hooks, nails, <te. The sounding board sold for 43| cts. ; the 
communion table for 75 cents ; the four poplar tveas for 50 cents each ; 
the bell axle, 6 cents. The bell was sold to Meneely and $300 paid for a 
new one. Nothing is said of the vane. 

As the old church was repaired at different times, alterations were 
made. The bell-rope was carried from the centre to the west side of 
the church. The benches of 1785, were superseded by pews as the con- 
gregation increased. 

The children have destroyed so many of their fathers" Dutch books 
that we can hardly guess what their reading consisted in. Doubtless 
they had but few books, and those mostly religious. Newspapers must 
have been scarce indeed, for none were printed in New York before 1725, 
and that weekly. 



SUBSCRIPTION LIST FOR 1837, A HALF YEAR'S SALARY.* 



Wait S. Everitt $3 50 

Cornelius Amberman 1 00 

James Hendrlckson 00 

Dow I. Ditmis 1 50 

John I. Bennet 3 00 

Bernardus Beimet, Jr . 1 50 

John Rhodes 75 

Aury Remsen, Sr. 3 00 

Aury Remsen, Jr 1 00 

John ReMnsen 1 00 

Daniel Hendrickson 2 50 

William Hendrickson 1 00 

John Bennet, Sr 2 00 

Abm. Hendrickson, Sr 3 00 

Hendrick A. Hendrickson ... 1 00 

Nathaniel Nostrand 1 50 

Rem Nostrand 1 50 

Stephen Mills 1 00 

Abm. B. Hendrickson 3 60 

The rest torn off. 



Widow Gretie Smith 50 

George Nostrand 50 

Henry Simonson 1 00 

Widow Sarah Bennet 50 

Widow Remsen 50 

Jeffrey Smith 50 

Wm. Golder 50 

Sarah Skinner 25 

Daniel Smith 1 00 

Hendrick Hendrickson 1 00 

Abm. Hendriclcson 50 

James S. Remsen 50 

Oldfleld Hendrickson 50 

Remsen Bennet 

Cornelius Bennet 25 

Henry Story 10 00 

Sarah Ann Bennet 50 

Steven Nostrand 50 

John Bennet, Plains 50 



* The pews (1833) were not sold subject to a tax ; but the Mluister's salary was i-aised 
by voluntary coutributions. 



A.ppj]]N^Drx:. 



A^T^PEIN^DIX. 



THE VILLAGE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 

When the Village Sunday School was coininenced is not 
known. The minute book begins July 10, 1831. The Rev. 
John Mulligan, principal of Union Hall Academy, opened 
the session with prayer. There were present seven male and 
seven female teachers, twenty-eight male and twenty-two 
female scholars. 

Isaac Simonson seems to have become superintendent 
December, 1832, and ended his services December 29, 1833. 
Henry Onderdonk, Jr. was superintendent from June 15, 
1834, to October 5, 1834 After this it is probable the school 
was suspended for a time. When it was resumed James D. 
Ditmars became superintendent. He was succeeded by 
William Phraner, who occupied the position until his death 
in the fall of 1873. January 15, 1874, Abraham DeBevoise 
was chosen to take charge of the school and has occupied 
his position until the present time. 

The school first held its sessions in the old octagon church, 
afterward in the basement of the new church. After that 
building was destroyed by fire, the present Consistory Room 
was erected, and the school has been held there since. 

The Consistory Room was built on Union avenue, upon 
ground donated by the owners, Richard Brush and John A. 
King. February 28, 1858, Richard Brush, John T. Waters, 
John N. Brinckerhoft", Isaac Amberman and Stephen L. 
Spader were appointed by the Consistory as the building 
committee. Under their supervision the building was soon 
completed. 

In the Spring of 1871, about five hundred dollars were ex- 
pended in making the room more convenient for the Sunday 



176 APPENDIX. 

School. Besides other improvements, the gallery was ex- 
tended and furnished with glass doors in front, so that it might 
be used for the infant class ; a new book case was provided 
for the library, and a portion of the room under the gallery 
was partitioned off by a railing for the use of the librarians. 
In the fall of 1879, the room was still further improved at a 
cost of about twelve hundred dollars. A cornice was put 
around the walls of the room, the walls and wood-work were 
newly painted, the library was removed from the front to the 
rear of the room, under the gallery on either side of the en- 
trance a Bible class room was made with sliding-doors be- 
tween each and the main room, all the rooms were carpeted, 
chairs took the place of wooden settees, cornices and lam- 
brequins were placed over the windows, the pulpit platform 
was lowered and a new walnut desk purchased. These 
and other improvements gave a beautiful and comfortable 
room, not only well adapted for the accommodation of the 
school, but for other purposes for which it was desired to use it. 

Collections are taken in the classes every Sunday. These 
are gathered quarterly. One-half of them are for the expen- 
ses of the School, and the other half are divided between the 
four Boards of our church — Foreign Missions, Domestic 
Missions, Education, and Publication. For instance, the 
collections for one quarter are for the Board of Foreign Mis- 
sions, the next quarter for the school, the next for the Board 
of Domestic Missions, the next for the School, &o. 

The International series of lessons are studied. In ad- 
dition to these, as a Catechism, " the Compendium of the 
Christian Religion" is taught. On the latter the Pastor ex- 
amines the scholars the last Sunday of each month. Just 
before the anniversary in the Spring, those scholars who 
present themselves, are examined separately on all the lessons 
of the International series studied from the first of the pre- 
vious October. Those who pass this examination receive an 
extra reward at the anniversary. 

The following officers were chosen at the annual meeting, 
held January, 1884: For Superintendent, Abraham DeBevoise; 



APPENDIX. 177 

Assistant Snperiutendent, Isaac Amberman ; Secretary, David 
L. Hardenbrook ; Assistant Secretary, J. Elmer Ryder ; 
Librarian, Charles C. DeBevoise ; Assistant Librarians, Aaron 
A. Degrauw, Jr., William W. Treadwell, William E. Remsen ; 
Treasurer, Stephen Ryder. 

There are connected with the school, officers and teach- 
ers, 28 ; scholars, 128 ; total, 156. 

EAST JAMAICA SUNDAY SCHOOL. 

An application was made, April 17, 1869, to the Consis- 
tory for the establishment of a Sunday School at East Ja- 
maica. The following persons were appointad as a commit- 
tee to organize the school : Rev. J. B. Alliger, Abraham 
DeBevoise, Horatio N. Stebbins and George L. Powell. 

The school was organized April 18, 1869, with the follow- 
ing officers : Superintendent, Abraham DeBevoise ; Secre- 
tary, William Kirby ; Treasurer, Francis Lott. May 23, 
Alfred M. Morrell was elected Librarian. July 11, William 
Kirby was made Assistant Superintendent, and George L. 
Powell Secretary in his place. Besides these officers there 
were connected with the school at its beginning the follow- 
ing teachers : Mrs. Van Allen, Lydia Rapelye, Catharine 
Lott, Charles J. DeBevoise, Oaldey Ketchara, Harman J. 
Stockholm. 

Abraham DeBevoise continued Superintendent for about 
two years when he was succeeded by George L. Powell. The 
latter held the office until 1873. William Kirby succeeded 
him and remained in the office for three years. After this 
George L. Powell was again elected and still continues as 
Superintendent. 

The officers of the school at present are : Superintendent, 
George L. Powell; Assistant Superintendent, Abraham J. 
DeBevoise ; Secretary, Charles T. DeBevoise ; Librarian, 
Samuel Colton ; Assistant Librarian, Charles Stockholm ; 
Treasurer, Daniel H. Carpenter. The school numbers, officers 
and teachers, 16 ; scholars, 52. 



178 APPENDIX. 

The first anniversary of the school was held in the church 
April 10, 1870. The second was held in the same place 
April 2, 1871. The other anniversaries have been held in the 
public school house, where the school met until Dec. 7, 1881. 

The school was called a Union School, but as it had been 
organized under the direction of the Consistory of the church, 
and as with a few exceptions those connected with it belong- 
ed to either the Reformed Church at Queens or to our own 
church, at a joint meeting of a committee of the school and 
the Consistory of the church, held March 17, 1881, the fol- 
lowing resolution was adopted : 

Resolved, That the Consistory propose to the East Jamaica Union 
Sunday School to take it under our care, and to receive it as one of the 
Sunday schools of our church, pro\'ided the officers and teachers of 
said school agree to such an arrangement. 

The officers and teachers accepted the proposition, and at 
a meeting of the Consistor}' held March 26, 1884, the school 
was formally received under the care of the Consistory, its 
name to be, " The East Jamaica Sunday School of the First 
Reformed Church of Jamaica." 

It being desirable to have a building especially adapted 
to the use of the school and other religious purpose s, it was 
determined to erect a chapel. Mr. Thomas T. Husson do- 
nated to the Consistory for the purpose a lot of ground 
fifty by one hundred feet, to which he afterward added the 
gift of a bell for the tower of the building. The school had 
accumulated a building fund of about five hundred dollars, 
to which were added subscriptions from friends sufficient to 
warrant the commencement of the chapel. Abraham J. 
DbBevoise, Samuel G. Cozine and Samuel Coltou were ap- 
pointed the building committee. The contract was awarded 
to Francis F. Gulick. October 8, the building was so far 
completed, that the ladies held a fair in it for the purpose of 
raising funds for furnishing the room. About four hundred 
dollars were realized. On Sunday afternoon, December 14, 
1884, the opening exercises were held in the new chapel. The 
Pastor presided. Addresses were delivered by Rev. Lewis 



APPENDIX. 179 

Lampman of the Presbyterian Church, Jamaica; Rev. Andrew 
Hageinan, of the Reformed Church at Queens; Rev. Henry 
B. Hibben, of the U. S. Navy, and Rev. Henry Freeh, of 
St. Paul's Reformed Church, Jamaica. The hist address 
was in German. The singing was rendered by the school, 
the congregation uniting in some of the hymns. A quartette 
was also sung by Mary Estelle Powell, Ida A. Bergen, George 
L. Powell and James Phraner. 

The school thus established in its new home it is hoped 
has a bright and useful future before it. 

THE MITE SOCIETY. 

The Mite Society was organized September, 1873. The 
object of tlie society is to furnish an organized medium, to 
tlie ladies of the congregation, for charitable operations, 
likewise to promote iuter-cominuiiion and social intercourse 
between the members of the church and congregation. 

The first officers were, for President, Mrs. Aaron A. De- 
grauw ; for Vice-President, Mrs. J. GarnseyVan Slyke ; for 
Treasurer, Mrs. Stephen Ryder ; for Secretary, Miss Mattie 
E. Phraner. Since the organization of the society there have 
been a few changes in the officers. Mrs. William Foster suc- 
ceeded Mrs. J. Garnsey Van Slyke as Vice President, and she 
in turn was succeeded by Mrs. Stephen L. Spader. Mrs. 
Charles H. Harris is now Secretary. 

Besides other ways in which the object of the society has 
been carried out ; money and garments have been distributed 
to the needy in our village, many social gatherings have 
been held, the Sunday school room has been furnished, and 
recently the church has been carpeted. 

THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 

This society was organized October 1, 1878. Its object 
and character are shown by the following extracts from its 
Constitution : 

The object of the society shall he the promotion of the spirit of Chris- 
tian missions, and the raising of funds for the dissemination of the 



180 APPENDIX. 

Gospel among the spiritually destitute, both in our own country and in 
foreign lands. The society shall be regarded as auxiliary to the mis- 
sionary boards of our Reformed Church. 

Any person whose name is placed upon a collector's book and who 
makes a monthly contribution to the society shall be a member of the 
same. 

The whole congregation is divided into districts, each district having a 
collector and comprising four or five families. 

The collectors shall solicit contributions for the society; keep a 
record of the regular monthly contrihutors ; collect each month the 
amount subscribed, and hand the same to the Treasurer at the regular 
meeting of the executive committee. 

The money collected by the society, the necessary expenses of the 
society being deducted, shall be divided equally between foreign and 
Domestic missions. The portion for Domestic missions shall be given to 
the Board of Domestic Missions. Two-thirds of the portion for Foreign 
missions shall be given to the Board of Foreign Missions and one-third 
to the Woman's Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church. 

The anniversary of the society shall be held on the second Sabbath 
morning in January. On tliis occasion an address or addresses shall be 
delivered and the report of the Secretary and of the Treasurer for the 
past year read. 

The Pastor shall preside at the anniversary of the society ; and is re- 
quested to deliver an address or sermon relating to the subject of mis- 
sions before the society on the second Sabbath of April, July and Octo- 
ber, or as near as convenient to these times. On these occasions he is 
also reciuested to read the quarterly report of the Treasurer. 

At the organization of the society the followiupr officers 
were chosen : President, Mrs. Aaron A. Degrauw ; Vice-Pres- 
ident, Mrs. Wm. H. DeHart; Secretary, Mrs. James A. Fleury; 
Treasurer, Mrs. Stephen L. Spader. 

The following were chosen for 1884 : President, Mrs. Wm. 
H. DeHart; Vice-President, Mrs. Jacob S. Wyckoff; Sec- 
retary, Miss Mattie E. Phraner ; Treasurer, Mrs. Stephen 
L. Spader; Collectors, Mrs. Elbert N. Remsen, Mrs. James M. 
Oakley, Mrs. Henry L. Nostrand, Mrs. Stephen Ryder, Mrs. 
George Durland, Mrs. Ditmars Eldert, Mrs. John L. Pente- 
cost, Mrs. Jacob S. Wyckoff, Mrs. John G. V. A. Duryea, Mrs. 
Stephen R3'der, Jamaica South; Mrs. John Hendrickson, Mrs. 
Andrew J. Van Sicleu, Mrs. David L. Brinckerhoff, Miss Mary 
H. Bergen, Miss Anna A. Griffin, Miss Mary A. Brinckerhoff, 



APPENDIX. 181 

Miss Mfirj E. Lucllum, Miss Sarah DeBevoise, Miss Mary E. 
DeBevoise, Miss Jennie H. Spader, Miss Susan A. Higbie, 
Miss Anna C. Hendrickson, Miss Ada Carpenter. 

The result of the efforts of the society may be seen to 
some extent by the increase in the contributions to Foreign 
and Domestic missions since its organization. Contributions 
from the church for the six years immediately preceding the 
organization of the society : 

For Foreign Missions $410 33 

For Domestic Missions 307 88 

Total. $718 21 

Average each year for botii causes 119 70 

Contributions for the six years since the organization of 
the society : 

For Foreign Missions $1,032 93 

For Domestic Missions 981 45 

Total $2,014 38 

Average eacli year for both causes. 335 73 

That is, the society has been a means of increasing the 
contributions of the church to missions very near threefold. 

THE STEADY GLEANERS. 

This society was organized by a company of young ladies 
April 1, 1881, under the direction of Miss H. Louise Stevens, 
at a meeting held at her home. 

The object of the society is the promotion of the mission- 
ary spirit, and the collection of money for missionary pur- 
poses. " In order that the members may assist each other in 
learning about missions they agree to ask questions and give 
such bits of information as may be useful in accomplishing 
the desired end." 

The officers of the society are : President, Mary Estelle 
Powell ; Vice-President, Annie L. Pentecost ; Treasurer, 
Susan Ann Hoyt ; Secretary, Anna Wyckoff, Assistant Sec- 
retary, Jennie Miller. 



182 APPENDIX. 

On Thursday Evening, October 16, 1884, the society gave 
a " Quaker tea party" in the Consistory Room. It was a very 
pleasant entertainment and well patronized. The proc eeds 
amounted to $71.98. The society decided to spend about 
twenty-five dollars of this sum for books upon missionary 
topics, for the use of the members of the society, and others 
who might desire to read them, the books to be placed in the 
Sunday school library. 

On October 22, 1884, it was determined to prepare a box 
of clothing and other articles for one of our mission aries at 
the West. This box was started on the way to its destina- 
tion December 13, with the expectation that it would reach 
the person for whom it was intended by Christmas. 

YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIAlTION. 

The Young Men's Association of the First Reformed 
Church, of Jamaica, was organized March 12, 1881. The 
object of this association is to unite its members in efforts 
to promote their religious, intellectual and social welfare, 
and to further the temporal and spiritual interests of the 
church. 

The regular business meetings are appointed for the first 
Wednesday evening of each month. 

Under the direction of the association, prayer meetings 
are held, social gatherings promoted, lectures delivered, &c. 

The present officers are : President, Rev. Wm. H. De 
Hart ; 1st Vice-President, Benj. F. Everitt, 2d Vice-Presi- 
dent, Wm. W. Treadwell ; Secretary, David L. Hardenbrook ; 
Assistant Secretary, Charles A. Ryder ; Treasurer, Wm. F. 
Wyckoff. Devotional Committee, Wm. W. Treadwell, Benj. 
F. Everitt, and Andrew Stockholm. Membership Commit- 
tee, Andrew J. Van Siclen, Charles C. DeBevoise and Benj. 
F. Everitt. Entertainment Committee, Wm. F. Wyckoff, 
Samuel E. Coziue, David L. Hardenbrook, Samuel Burger 
and Wm. W. Treadwell. Reception Committee, John L. 
Wyckoff, John T. Suydam, Gilbert S. Bergen, G. Elmer Van 
Siclen, Andrew J. Van Siclen, Wm. H. DeHart, Wm. W. 
Treadwell, and Abm. DeBevoise. 



LIST OF THE 



PMTOl^S, ELDBl^S ftQD DEMOTES, ftI]D IIiElI]BEp, 



THE FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, 



JAMAICA, L. I. 



Note. — The Consistory in the early history of the church do not ap- 
pear to have Jiept an account of their procsedings. The Baptisms are 
regularly recorded from 1702-1742 ; after this there are interruptions 
until 1785. Marriages are not recorded until 1802. Although there are 
some papers and fragmentary minutes bearing dates previous to 1785, 
yet it is not until this year that the minutes appear to have been syste- 
matically kept. There are no books or papers to be found by which the 
officers and members of the church previous to 1785 may be to any extent 
known. 

The list of the Pastors contains the names of all, as far as known, who 
have officiated regularly in the church from its commencement until the 
present time, together with the dates of their ministrations. The list of 
Elders and Deacons and members, with the exceptions hereafter noticed 
is cpmplete for one hundred years, 1785-1884:. 



PASTORS. 

1705. ViNCENTIUS Antonides. 1741. 

[ Also over the churches of Bushwick, Flatbush, Flatlands, 

Brooklyn, New Utrecht and Gravesend.] 

174:0. Johannes Hendricus Goetsohius. 1748. 

1754. Thomas Romeyn. 1760. 

1760. Abraham Keteltas (Supply). 1762. 

[He preached in English, Dutch or French. The church desired him as 

a Pastor, but the Glassis ot Amsterdam were not satisfied with 

his views of the Divinity of Christ, and refused their 

« assent. — Corwin's Manual-I 

1760. Hermanus Lancelot Boelen. 1772. 

1775. Solomon Feoeligh. 1776. 

1785. Rynier Van Nest. 1797. 

1794. Zacharias H. Ktjypees (Cooper). 1824. 

[ All the above, excepting Vincentius Antonides, were also over 

the churches of Newtown, Success and Oyster Bay.] 

1802. Jacob Schoonmaker. 1850. 

[ Also over the church of Newtown from 1802-1849.] 

1835. Garret J. Garretson. 1849. 

[Also over the Church of Newtown.] 

18.50. John B. Alliger. 1870. 

1870. John Gaensey Van Slyke. 1876. 

1877. William Henry DeHart. 

[Van Basten appears to have supplied Jamaica, Newtown, Success and 

Oyster Bay, 1739-1740, but doubtful whether he was ever settled.] 



186 



APPENDIX. 



CHURCH OFFICERS. 



Elders. 

1785. Ares Remsen, 
Jacob Lott, 
Isaac Lefferts, 
Peter Monfort. 

1786. Garret Noorstrand, 
Abram Ditniars. 

1788. Jeremias Van Derbelt, 
Stephen Lott. 

1789. Jeremiah Remsen, 
Jost Van Brunt. 

1790. Isaac Lefferts, 
Peter Monfort. 

1791. Isaac Amberman, 
Abram Dilmars, 

1792. Jeremias Remsen, 
Jeremiah Van Derbelt. 

1793. Johannis Duryea, 
Hendricli Hendriclison. 

1794. William Bennet, 
Isaac Brinelverhoff. 

1795. Jost Van Brunt, 
Abram Ditmars. 

1796. Stephen Lott, 
Elbert Hoogland. 

1797. William Golder, 
Martin Jansen. 

1798. Roelef Duryea, 
Johannis Duryea. 

1799. Hendrick Hendrickson, 
Isaiic Brinckerhoff. 

1800. William Bennet, 
Abraham Ditmars. 

1801 Jost Van Brunt, 
Albert Hoogland. 

1802. Stephen Lott, 
Hendrick Hendrickson. 

1803. John Williamson, 
Isaac Brinckerhoff. 

1801. Rem Snedeker, 
Hendrick Hendrickson. 

1805. Albert Hoogland, 
John Duryea. 

1806. Isaac Amberman, 
Johannes S. Lott. 



Deacons. 
Cornelius Monfort, 
Isaac Amerman, 
Jost Van Brunt, 
Stephanus Lott. 
Jacob Adrianse, 
Johannis Duryea. 
Isaac Brinckerhoff, 
Hendrick Hendrickson. 
Martin Jansen, 
Elbert Hoogland. 
William Golder, 
Johannis Lott. 
Johannis Duryea, 
Hendrick Hendrickson. 
Roelef Duryea, 
Elbert Hoogland. 
Johannis H. Lott, 
Isaac Amerman. 
Jan Williamson, 
Rem Snedeker. 
Jan Amerman, 
Johannis Lott. 
Abram Lott, 
Isaac Hendrickson. 
Jan Williamson, 
Isaac Amerman. 
Rem Snedeker, 
Johannis H. Lott. 
John Lott, Jr., 
John Amberman. 
Johannis H. Lott, 
Rem Snedeker. 
Isaac Hendrickson, 
Isaac Amberman. 
Hendrick Emmons, 
Hendrick Lott. 
Rem Remsen, 
Albert Snedeker. 
Johannis S. Lott, 
Hendrick S. Lott. 
Isaac Hendrickson, 
Abraham Hendrickson. 
Johannis H. Lott, 
Hendi-ick Emmons. 



APPENDIX. 



187 



Elder/^. 

1807. Albert Hooglaiid, 
John Duryea. 

1808. Hendrick Hendrickson, 
Rem Sneileker. 

1809. Isaac Briiickerhoff, 
Abraham Ditmars. 

1810. Johaiiuis S. Lott, 
Hendrick Heudrickson. 

1811. Isaac Heudrickson, 
Jolm Duryea. 

1812. Rem Remseu, 
Rem Snedeker. 

1813. Abraham Ditmars, 
Albert Hoogland 

1814. Hendrick S. Lott, 
Abraham Heudrickson. 

1815. Aaron Duryea, 
John Duryea. 

1816. Rem Snedeker, 
Isaac Amberman. 

1817. Nicholas Ryder, 
Hendrick Brinckeriioff. 

1818. Hendrick S. Lott, 
James Hendriekson. 

1819. Aaron Duryea, 
John I. Duryea. 

1820. Rem Snedeker, 
Abraham Heudrickson. 

1821. Hendrick Brinckerhoff, 
Nicholas Ryder. 

1822. Hendrick S. Lott, 
James Heudrickson. 

1823. John Bergen, 
John Duryea. 

1824. Abraham Hendrickson, 
Nicholas Ryder. 

182.5. Hendrick Brinckerhoff, 

Johannis Lott. 
182G. Hendrick S. Lott, 

James Hendrickson. 

1827. John Bergen, 
James Van Siclen. 

1828. Nicholas Ryder, 
John Van Nostrand. 



Deacons. 

Isaac Hendrickson, 
Rem Remsen. 
Aaron Duryea, 
Nicholas Ryder. 
Aur\^ Snedeker, 
John Duryea, Jr. 
Hendrick S. Lott, 
Hendrick Brinckerhoff. 
Bernardus Bennet, 
John Duryea, Jr. 
Aaron Duryea, 
Johannis H. Eldert. 
Bernardus Lamberson, 
Nicholas Rytler. 
Hendricli Brinckerhoff, 
Barney V. D. Suydam. 
James Van Siclen, 
James Hendrickson. 
John Bergen, 
Abraham Hegeman. 
John Bennet, 
Johannis Lott. 
Johannis H. Eldert, 
John Bennet. 
George Johnson, 
Aurv Remsen. 



Hendrick Hendrickson, 
James Van Siclen. 
Bernardus Bennet, 
George Johnson. 
Abraham Hendrickson, 
Johannis I. Lott. 
Isaac Amberraan, 
William Stoothoff. 
John Amberman, 
James Van Sic^len, 
John I. Bennet, 
Abraham Hegeman. 
Abraham I. Hendrickson, 
John A. Ditmars. 
Hendrick Hendrickson, 
William Stootlioff. 



188 



APPENDIX. 



Elder.9. 

1829. Johannis I. Lott, 
Abraham I. Ilendrickson. 

1830. Hendrick S. Lott, 
James Hendrickson. 

1831. George Johnson, 
Timothy Khodes. 

1832. Nicholas Ryder, 
James Hedrickson. 

1833. John Van Nostrand, 
John A. Ditmars. 

1834. John I. Bennet, 
William Stoothoff. 

1835. James Van Siclen, 
Timothy Rhodes. 

183G. John Bennet, 

Abraham Hegeman. 

1837. Joliannis Lott, 
Benjamin Rhodes. 

1838. James Hendrickson, 
Theodorus Snedeker. 

1839. George Johnson, 
John Van Nostrand. 

1840. Abraham Smith, 
Jo!m I. Bennet. 

1841. David Baiseley, 
Timothj' Rhodes. 

1842. Abraham Hegeman, 
John Bennett, 

1843. James Van Siclen, 
John Van Nostrand. 

1844. Theodorus Snedeker. 
Bernardus Bennett. 



1845. Johannis Lott, 

Timothy Rhodes. 

1840). Abraham Hegeman, 
Nathaniel Nostrand. 

1847. George Johnson, 
Benjamin Hegeman. 

1848. Peter Lott, 

Daniel Hendrickson. 
18-49. Benjamin Hegeman, 
David Baiseley. 



Deacons. 

Timothy Rhodes, 

Jost Lott. 

John Simonson, 

Theodorus Snedeker. 

John I. Bennet, 

Luke Covert. 

Albert A. Amberman, 

Abraham Hegeman. 

Abraham B. Hendrickson, 

John Bennet. 

John W. Stoothoff, 

Theodorus Snedeker. 

Bernardus Bennet, 

Nathaniel Nostrand. 

David Baiseley, 

Jonathan Burnet. 

John Amberman, 

Melancton Carpenter. 

Isaac Simonson, 

P(3ter Lott. 

John Simonson, 

Smith E. Hendrickson. 

Jonathan Burnet, 

Abraham Hendrickson, Jr. 

Isaac Simonson, 

Benjamin Hegeman. 

James Ryder, 

Nathaniel Nostrand. 

Nicholas Emmons, 

Smith E. Hendrickson, 

Peter Lott, 

Abraham A. Hendrickson, 

Abraham Ayres, one year in 
place of Smith E. Hendrick- 
son, removed from cong'n. 

Daniel Hendrickson, 

James D. Ditmars. 

Aury Remsen, 

Isaac Simonson. 

Jdhn Amberman, Sr., 

James D. Ditmars, 

William Phraner, 

John Skidmore VanNostrand 

Henry Story, 

Stephen N. Lott. 



APPENDIX. 



189 



Elders. 

1850. Theodoras Siiedeker, 
Abraham A. Hendrickson. 

1851. E. W. Van Voorhis, 

^ John S. Van Nostrand. 



1852. Henry Story, 
Stephen N. Lott. 

1853. Samuel W. Loweree, 
Dauiel Hendrickson. 

1854. Stephen H. Lott. 
Nathaniel Nostrand. 

1855. E. W. Van Voorhis, 
David Baiseley. 

1856.* Theodoras Snedeker, 
George Rhodes. 

1857. Daniel Hendrickson, 
Stephen Ryder. 

1858. John S. Van Nostrand, 
Theodoras Snedeker. 

1859. David Baiseley, 
Abraham A. Hendrickson. 

1860. Stephen N Lott, 
William Phraner. 

1861. Abraham A. Hendrickson, 
Nathaniel Nostrand. 

1862. Stephen Ryder, 
Remsen Bennet. 

1863. James D. Ditraars, 
Daniel Hendrickson. 

1864. Theodoras Snedeker, 

1865. Richard Brush, 
Abraham BeBevoise. 

1866. John S. Van Nostrand, 
John N. Brinckerhoff. ' 

1867. Hendrick A. Hendrickson, 
Isaac Amberman. 



Deacons. 

Stephen H. Lott, 
George Rhodes. 
John Allen, 
Ditmars Stoothoff, 
Nicholas Amberman in place 

of John Allen, removed 

from congregation. 
Stephen Ryder, 
George Rhodes. 
Remsen Bennet, 
Isaac Amberman. 
James D. Ditmars, 
John Rhodes. 
Ditmars Stoothoff, 
William Phraner. 
James D. Ditmars, 
William Nostrand. f 
Lsaac Amberman, 
Remsen Bennet. 
Ditmars Stoothoff, 
William Phranerf 
James D. Ditmars, 
Hendrick A. Hendrickson. 
William Stoothoff, 
Joseph O. Skill man. 
John Rhodesf 

James Lott. 

John H. Van Nostrandf 

Harnian J. Stockholmf 

John DeBevoise, 
William Nostrand. f 
James Ryder, 

Charles J. DeBevoise, 
Abraham H. Smith 
James C. Hendrickson, 
Michael Baiseley. 



* A portion of the records having been lost, the list from 18.50-1865 is made up from 
other souroes. The year in which some of the Elders, who served during this period, 
were chosen to office may have been one yeir earlier or later than here given, but the 
names of all are correct, having been obtained from the minutes of the North Classis of 
Lons; Island. In the list of Deacons there are several vacancies which could not be sup- 
plied. A few names have been iuserted of persons, who it is supposed served during 
a portion of this period. These name are designated by t. 



190 



APPENDIX. 



Elders. 

1868. Abraham A. Hendrickson, 
Henry Onderdonk, Jr. 

1869. William Stoothoff, 
Abraham DeBevoise. 

1870. John S. Van Nostrand, 
Kichard Brush, 

1871. John N. Brinckerhoff, 
Mai'tin I. Duryea. 

1872. Charles J. DeBevoise, 
Isaac Amberman. 

1873. Isaac Snedeker, 
William Phraner. 

1874. James C. Hendrickson, 
Stephen Ryder, 

Isaac Amberman, for one year 
in place of William Phraner, 
deceased. 

1875. John N. Brinckerhoff, 
Isaac Snedeker. 

1876. John Van Siclen, 
James C. Hendrickson. 

1877. Michael Baiseley, 
Abraham DeBevoise. 

1878. Martin G. Johnson, 
Stephen Ryder. 

1879. Isaac Amberman, 
Martin I. Dur^^ea. 

1880. James C. Hendrickson, 
Abraham DeBevoise. 

1881. Martin G. Johnson, 
Isaac Bennot. 

1882. Abraham Schenck Bergen, 
George Higbie. 

1883. Isaac Snedeker, 
John A. Hegeman. 

188-4. Samuel G. Cozine. 
Francis F. Gulick. 



Deacons. 
James H. Stoothoff, 
Thomas H. Fredericks. 
Martin I. Duryea, 
Abraham Remsen. 
Hendrick Lott, 
Ditmars Eldert. 
Michael Baiseley, 
James C. Hendrickson. 
Elbert A. Brinckerhoff. 
Stephen Ryder. 
Harman J. Stockholm, 
David Baylis. 
Charles H. Harris. 
Elbert N. Remsen. 



Harman J. Stockholm, 
George L. Powell. 
James R. Fredericks, 
George Bennet. 
John H. Van Nostrand, 
George L. Powell. 
William W. Treadwell, 
Peter C. Hendrickson. 
Ditmars Eldert, 
Harman J. Stockholm. 
Elijah H. Nostrand, 
John A. Hegeman. 
Thomas H. Fredericks, 
James H. Stoothoff. 
Charles C. DeBevoise, 
Andrew J. Van Siclen. 
David Baylis, 
Thomas H. Fredericks. 
John Hendrickson, 
Ditmars Eldert. 



APPENDIX. 
CHURCH MEMBERS. 



191 



[ \v. indicates wife, wid. widow, a bracket husband aud wife, c. joined on certificate.] 



1786, 
May 19, 



1788, 
April 20, 



1789, 
Nov. 20, 

1791, 
Dec. 16, 



1793, 
Nov. 1, 

1795, 
June 5. 



1798, 
Nov. 9, 

1801, 
May 20, 



Isaac Brinckerhoff, 
Hendrick Hendrickson, 
Mrs. Hea'k Hendrickson, 
Ida Van Deventer, wid. 

of Garret Stryker, 
Johan Duryea, c. 
Mrs. Johan Duryea, 
Isaac Ryknian, c. 
Jeremiah Van Derbelt, c. 
William Colder, 
Elbert Hoogland, 
Maria Brinckerhoff, w. of 

Cornelius Monfort, 
Johannes Lott, 
Nelly Suydam, 
Johannes Lott, 
Mai'gareta Van Nuys, 
Rem Snedeker, 
Maria Van Derveer, 
Roeleph Duryea, 
Isaac Amerman, Jr., 
Jan Amerman, Jr., 
Phehe Scidmore, w. of 

Wm. Colder, 
Gertye Van Side, w. of 

Abram Lott, 
Jan Williamson, 
Ariaentye Suydam, 
Femmetye Monfort, wid. 

of Wm. Monfort, 
\ Isaac Hendrickson, 
1 Sarah Monfort, 
Jacob Brinckerhoff, 
Femmetye Springsteen, 

w. of Is'c Hendrickson 
Annatie Bennet, w. of 

Isaac Brinckerhoff, 
j David Sprong, 
j Eva Van Lew, 
] Elbert Snedeker, 
j Maria Rape lye, 
Nelly Van Lew, wid. of 

John Van Lew, 
Altie Bloodgood, wid. of 

Cornelius Monfort, 
Tunes Bergen, 
j Rem Remsen, 
( Annatie Bennet, 
Antie Brinckerhoff, w. of 

Jan Amberman, 
Elizabeth Oakley, wid. of 

John Nostrand, 



1801. 
May. 20, 



1803, 
Oct. 15, 
Oct. 16, 



1807, 
Feb. 21, 



May 14, 

1808, 
Nov. 10. 



1809, 
Nov. 9, 



1810. 
May 3, 
Nov. 8, 



1811. 
May 2, 
Nov. 7, 



1812, 
April, 



Abraham Van Arsdale, 
Lametie Amberman, 
Abr'ham H. Hendrickson 
Cornelia Duryea, w. of 

Jost Van Brunt, Jr., 
Hendrick Emmons, 
Sarah Bergen, 
Garret Snedeker, 
Johanah Bogert, 
Femetie Rapelye, wid. of 

Martin Johnson, 
Hendrick Lott, 
Sarah Onderdonk, wid. of 

Abraham Brinckerhoff 
Johannes Brinckerhoff, 
Rebecca Lott, 
Aaron Duryea., 

Peter Antonides, c. 

Aury Snedeker, 

Femetie Covert, w. of 
Garret Van Wickelen, 

John Scidmore, 

Jane Scidmore, 

Maria Wolf, w. of Thos. 
Smith, Jr., 

Nicholas Rider, 

Hannah Lane, 

John Duryea, 

Phebe Johnson, 

Hendrick Brinckerhoff, 

Sarah Snedeker, 

Elizabeth Barkelow, c, 

Bernardus Bennet, 

Charity Amberman, 

Sarah Vooris, w. of Isaac 
Bennet, 

Mrs. Letitia Mills, 

Mrs. Ann Bergen, 

Hendrick Poulis, c, 

Harriet Nostrand, c, w. 
of Peter Kuypers, 

Phebe Lott, wid. of Ste- 
phen Lott, Jr., 

Derick Amberman, 

Bernardus Lambertson, 

Phebe Boorem, w. of 
Isaac Amberman, 

Johannis H. Eldert, 

Phebe Remsen, 

Sarah Amberman, w. of 
Bernardus Lambertson 



192 



APPENDIX. 



1813, 
April 22, 



1814, 
April 22, 



May 8. 
Nov. 11, 



1815, 
April 20, 
Nov. 10, 

1816, 
April 18, 



1816, 
Nov. 9, 



1817, 
April 5, 



May 1, 



Phebe Sprong, wid. of 

Jolm Suydam, 
Barnet VanDeventer Suy- 

data, 
James Hendrickson, 
Elizabeth Oakley, w. of 

Wm. Willis, 
Gersina Brower, w. of 

Daniel Selover, 
Patty Kean, w. of Wm. 

Raymond, 
Elizabeth Snedeker, 
Adriana Snedeker, 
James Van Siclen, c, 
Ida Kouwenhoven, c, 
Sarah Rosevelt, w. of 

Dr. Hitchcock, 
Jane Duryea, wid. of Mr. 

Oaten, 
( Abraham Hegeman, 
j Ana Lott, 
Jane Willis, w. of Albert 

Hoogland, 
John Bergen, 
( John H. Lott, 
] Abigail Bergen, 
Sarah Higbie, w. of Aury 

Remsen, 
Sarah Ammerman, 
John Bermet, 
Mary Rhodes, 
\ John Bennet, 
i Harriet Bennet, 
Daniel Selover, 
Letitia Ryder, w. of Rem 

Remsen. 
Margaret Watts, 
Aury Remsen, 
George Johnson, 
Oharity Boeruni, w. of 

Wm. Hendrickson, 
Elizabeth Ludlum, w. of 

Abraham Hendrickson 
Hannah Higbie, w. of 

Hend'k Hendrickson, 
Ida Ryder, w. of Peter 

Antonides, 
Wilhelmiis Stoothoff, 
Bernardus Bennet, 
Elizabeth Lott, w. of 

Simeon Marsten, 
Elizabeth Mills, w. of 

Bernardus Bennet, 
Oatharine Demott, w. of 

Joseph Hendrickson, 
Maria Hendrickson, w. 

of John Bergen, 
Ann Dyckman, w. of 

Richard Covert, 



1817, 
May 1, 



Oct. 24. 



1818, 
Nov. 5, 

1819, 
April 30, 



Oct. 21, 



1820. 
Ayril 14, 



Nov. 10, 



1821, 
April 27, 

1822, 
April 22, 



Catharine Oldfield, w. of 

James Hendrickson, 
Miriam Oldfield, w. of 

John Bergen, 
Elizabeth Bennet, 
Aletta Briuckerhoff, 
Sarah Van Winkle, c. w. 

or wid. of John Slusser, 
Hendrick Hendrickson, 
Isaac Amberman, 
William Hendrickson, 
John Amberman, 
Hannah Mills, w.of Isaac 

Amberman, 
Abigail Golder, w. of 

Melancton Carpenter, 
Ann Remsen, wid.of John 

Bennet, 
Willempe Schenck, w. of 

George Lott, 
Phebe Bergen, wid. of 

Abraham Hendrickson, 
Maria Lott, 

Elizabeth Hendrickson, 
Allete Hendrickson, 

Williamson, c, 

Derick Covert, 
Tennis Covert, 
Abraham Hendrickson, 
Jane Amerman, 
Sarah Nostrand, 
Elsie Demott, w. of Ohl- 

lield Bergen, 
Margaret Smith, c, w. 

of John Amerman, 
Sarah Lawrence, w. of 

Peter Cortelyou, 
Catharine Bennum, wid. 

of Elias Hendrickson, 
Ruth Ludlum, wid. of 

Abraham Golder, 
Charity Antonides, wid. 

of David Abrams, 
Catharine Wyckoff, wid. 

of Derick Covert, 
Maria Snedeker, 
Moicha Ryder, w. of El- 

dert Eldert, 
Margaret Amerman, w. 

ot George Duryea, 
Cornelius Suj'dara, c, 
Ida Rapelye, c, 
George Duryea. 
Maria Van Arsdale, w. of 

Derick Amerman, 
Ida Lott, w. of Uriah 

Hendrickson, 
ElsiH Westervelt, w. of 

Mr. Robertson, c. 



APPENDIX. 



193 



1822. Elizabeth Remsen, wid, 
Oct. 25, of Peter Nostraud, 

1823, Catharine Nostrand, w. 
Oct. 24, of Aury Higbie, 

1825, Maria Golder, 

April 29, I John Van Nostrand, c, 
'j Fanny Nostrand, c, 

1826, John A. Ditmars, 
April 28, j George I. Lott, 

I Maria Voorhees, 
Peggy Bennet, 
Margaret Hendrickson, 
Naucne Bennet, w. of 
Hendrieli Hendrickson 
Cynthia SimoiiTon, w. of 

Nicholas Williamson, 
Elizabeth Smith, w. of 

Jeffrey Smith, 
Sallv Smith, w. of Henry 
MUls, 
Oct. 14, ( Heiid'k A. Hendrickson, 
'( Sarah Hendrickson, c, 
J Smith E. Hendrickson, 
{ Susan Ptider, 
Sarah Bennet, w. of Rem 

Remsen, 
Elizabeth Bonnet, w. of 

Garret Nostrand, 
Phebe Van Nostrand, 

1827, j Isnac Skirm, 
April 6, ) Margaret Storm, 

j Niciiolas Amberman, 
( Sarah Golder, 
Henry Simonson, 
Isaac Simonsofi, 
Geerche Bennet, 

William Martin, 
Ann Bennet, wid. of 

Peter Stoothoff, 
Agnes Snedeker, wid of 

John Waters, 
Sarah Ann Simonson, 

1827, Hannah Skidmore, w 
Oct. 14, John Simonson, 

Mary Lott, 

1828, John Van Arsdalen, 
April 18, j Nicholas Simonson, 

( Rebecca Mills, 

\ Abraham B. Hendrickson 

'( Phebe Golder, 
Alletta Smith, w. of Wil- 
liam Stoothoff, 
Jane Stoothoff, 
Catharine Hendrickson, 
Phebe Smith, w. of Wait 

Everitt, 
Hetty Morrel, 
Charity Van Arsdalen, 
Susannah Hegeman, 



1828. 
April 18, 

Nov. 28, 



1829, 
May 1, 



Oct. 15, 



1830, 
April 30, 
July 31 

1831, 
April 29 



of Oct. 15 



of 



1832, 
May 11 



May 12 



Nov. 9 



Sarah Skidmore, w. of 

Henry Van Arsdalen, 
Nelly Hegeman. c, 
Theodorus Snedeker, 
j Timothy Rhodes.* 
I Margaret Bennet,* 
Jane Snedeker, 
Martha Golder, w. of 
John B. Golder, 
j Luke Covert, 
( Patience Smith, 
Catalina Ditmars, wid. of 

Samuel Eldert, 
Sally Nostrand, w. of 

James Bogart, 
Phebe Covert, 
( Albert A. Ammerman, 
'( Ellen Peterson, 
Mary Morrell, wid. of 

Jonathan Morrell, 
John W. Stoothoff, 
Margaret Hendrickson, 
c, w. of Jacob Ryder, 
, Catharine Onderdonk, c. 
w. of Dow I. Ditmis, 
Cornelius Amerman, 
Albert Nostrand, 
Sarah Bennet, w. of An- 
dreas Nostrand, 
Nell}- Skidmore, w. of 

John Nostrand, 
Catharine Brush, w. of 

Stephen Henderson, 
Nelly Lott, 
Sarah Ann Bennet, 
, J Abraham Snedeker, 
I Sarah Briiickerhoff, 
j Peter Nostrand, 
/ Margaret Lott, 
George Nostrand, 
John Rhodes, 
Nelly Watts, w. of Na- 
thaniel Nostrand, 
Margaret Nostrand, 
Nelly Lott, 

Ric'd L. Schoonmaker, c 
Nathaniel Nostrand, 
, Johanna Hendrickson, 
Moicha Ryder, c. w. of 

Eldert Eldert, 
Catliarine Paynter, w. of 

William Totten, 
Elsie Sn>ith. c, w. of 

Nathaniel Nostrand, 
Eliza Ludlow, c. w. of 

Peter P. Larremore, 

Phebe Freeman, c. w. of 

Richard Ammerman, 



* Date uncertaiu. 



194 



APPENDIX. 



1833, 

Feb. 3, 
April 26, 



Oct. 25, 



1834, 
April 25. 



Oct. 23, 



1835, 
April 24, 
Oct. 10. 



1836, 
April 8, 



Aug. 13, 
Dec. 2, 



Ann Stoothoff, c. wicl. of j 1837, 
James Hi<2;bie, April 8, 

Margaret Terhune, wid. 
of John Wyckoff, 

Maria H. Onderdonk, c. 

w. of H. Onderdonk, Jr Aug. 11, 

Sally Murray, w. of Mor- 
ris Covert, 1838, 

Nelly Jones (colored), April 6, 

Chai'lty Remsen, 

Leali Simonson, c. wid. 
of Leonard Seaman, 

Hannah Ambler Weed, c. Aug, 10, 
w. William Seaman, 

Margaret Seaman, c, 

Jane Elizabeth Seaman, c 

Elizabeth Van Brunt, w. 1839, 
of Nicholas Wyckoff, May 30, 

Phebe Suydam, wid. of 
Dominicus Snedelter, 

Mary Smith, c, w. of 
Nicholas Amberman, 

Catharine Wyckofi, c, w. 
of William Bennet, 

Phebe Sprong, w. of Ste- 
phen H. Lott, 

Lemmata Van Arsdalen, 
w. of John Nostrand, 

Peter Stoothoff, 

Cornelia E. Hendriclcson 

Winifred Hendrickson, w 
of Abraham Bei-gen, 

Mary Mills, w. of Rem- 
sen Golder, 

Jonathan Burnett, c. 

Abraham Smith, c, 

Deborah Hulst, c, 

Maria Bennet, w. of Hen- 
drick L. Van Wicklen, Sept. 5, 

Melancton Carpenter, 

Peter Lott, 

David Baiseley, c, 

Sarah Powell, c. Dee. 13, 

Isaac Bogart, c, 1840, 

Mary Monfort, c, Aug. 7, 

Hannah Bogart, c, j 

Ann Bogart, c, wid. of 1841, 
Samuel Dusenberry, April 3, 

John N. Brinckerhoff, [ Sept. 3, 

Mary M. Adrain, j 1842, 

Magdalen Lott, ! Jan. 20, 

Ann Maria Thompson, w. ; April 1, 
of Thomas Brownell, 

Henry Story, c, 

Eliza Bond, c, 

Jane Elizalaeth Wright, 
c, w. of Abraham 
Brinckerhoff, 



Alletta Wailey, wid. of 

Robert Allen, 
Catharine Bogie, w. of 

Samuel Corrie, 
James (Jacobus) Ryder, c 
Ann Lott, w. of John 

Spader. 
Aury Van Arsdalen, 
Mai'ia Hendrickson, w. 

of Cornelius Bennet, 
Ann Jenkins, c , w. of 

Garret Nostrand, 
Nelly Suydam, w. of 

Anselm H. ConkUn, 
William Palmer, c, 
Mrs. William Palmer, e. 
Benjamin Hegeman, 
John Amberman, 
Ab'm A. Hendrickson, Jr. 
Elizabeth Carpenter, 
Adriana Hendrickson, 
Sarah Rhodes, w. of Abm 

Duryea Remsen, 
Margaret Smith, w., of 

James (Jacobus) Ryder 
Sarah McKee, w. of John 

B. Bennet, 
Abigail Jane Lott, 
Sarah Elizabeth Van 

Nostrand, 
Ruth Bennet, 
Sarah Ann Bennet, w. of 

Rem Nostrand, 
Susannah R. Areson, w. 

of John Simonson, 
Phebe Hendrickson, w. of 

Nathaniel Nostrand, 
Jane Locy, c, w. o£ 

Daniel Snedeker, 
Daniel Simonson, 
Anna Simonson, 
Maria Wyckoff, w. of 

William Van Dine, 
Phebe Hagner, 
Hixnnah A. Higbie, w. of 

Joseph Simonson, 
Cor'liaE. Hendrickson, c, 
James Whightman, c, 
Ann Mary Daggart, c, 
George Crane, c, 

Martha Seaman, 

Elizabeth Nostrand, w. 

of Wm. Golder, 
Marietta Rodsers, w. of 

Talman Watei's, 
Elizabeth Crane, c, w. 

of George Crane, 
Margaret Adrain, c. 



APPENDIX. 



195 



1842, 
Sept. IG. 



1843, 
Feb. 3, 



May 13, 



Ang. 18, 

Nov. 23, 

1844, 
May 24, 

Auii. 3U, 



Dec. 6, 



184.5, 
April 4, 



July 18, 



1846, 
Jan. 16, 

April 10, 



Palmyra Pettit, \v. of Pe- 
ter Aniberman. 
James Ditmars, Jr., 
PrL-^icilla Hendrickson, 

wid. of Daniel Smith. 
Nicholas Emmons, 
Abraham Ayres, 
Magdalen W, Van Lew, 
Johanna W. Van Siclen, 

w. of Wm. H. WooUey, 
Sarah Bergen, 
Phebe Maria Bergen, 
Sarah Monfort, w. of 

John Allen, 
Anne Simonson, wid. of 

Isaac Aniberman, 
Elizabeth Hendrickson, 

w. of Peter Eemsen, 
Catharine Baiseley. w. of 

Nicholas Emmons, 
John H. Bailey, c, 
Eliza Ann Kip, c, 
Eleanor Clem, c, w. of 

Isaac Ludlam, 
Maria Suydam, wid. of 

Matthew T. Van Zandt, 
Rebecca Creed, 
Sarah Wyckoff, c, w. of 

Wm. C. Stoothoff, 
Helen Van Pelt, c, wid. 

of Bareiit Wyckoff, 
Daniel Hendrickson, 
Hannah Cortelyou, 
William L. Hendrickson, 
Maria Bennett, 
Bernardus Bennett, Jr., 
Elizabeth Mary Hend- 
rickson, 
Elizabeth Luyster, wid. 

of Garret Monfort, 
Ann Bergen, 
Sophia Piatt, w. of John 

L. Brinckerhoff, 
Sarah Wood (colored), 
Abraham D. Remsen, 
George Rhodes, 
Elizabeth Hicks, 
Eleanor Remsen, w. of 

Nathaniel Sweet, 
Mary Wright, w. of Hen- 

drick Remsen, 
Catharine Remsen, 
John S. Van Nostrand, 
Ellen Maria VanDerveer. 

w. of Wm. Phraner, 
Harriet Coe, c, w. of 

Stephen Tyson, 
Judith Mills" Golder, 
James Bogart, 



1816, Mary Jane Van Siclen, 
April 10, w. of John Amberman, 
July 18, Eliza Adrain,c.,w, of Rev. 
Peter. S. Williamson, 

1847, John Covert, 

Jan. 15, Cornelius Amberman, 

Jane Bennett, w. of Har- 
vey Powell, 
Ruth Ann Golder, 
Catharine Bennett, 

, Charity Ann Simonson, 

July 30 \ Isaac Amberman, 
j Phebe Higbie, c, 

Oct. 22, William Phraner, 

Sarali Ann Amberman, 

1848, John Allen, 

Jan. 28, Alletta Ann Allen, 

Oliver Lawrence, 
April 7, Stephen N. Ryder, 
( Stephen N. Lott. 
"j Cornelia Van Derveer, 
Cataline Eldert, w. of 

H. S. Lott. 
Catharine Stoothoff, w. 

of Nicholas Eldert, 
Hannah Maria Seaman, 
Susan Simonson, wid. of 

John Van Wicklen, 
Maria J. Suydam, c, w. 
of Gilbert Bergen, 
July 27, Alletta Ann Higbie, 

Elizabeth Higbie, 
Oct. 20, Maria Van Wicklen, 
Cornelia Van Siclen, 
Gitty Ann Van Siclen, 
Hannah Hall, 
j E. W. Van Voorhis, c, 
( Maria L. Barker, c, 

1849, Maria Marsten, wid. of 
Jan. 26, Albert Amberman, 

Margaret Marsten, wid. of 

John Powell, 
Mary Eliz. Brinckerhoff, 
Mary Ann Manley. c, w. 

of Zebulon Mount, 
Mary Jarvis (Wright), c, 
w. of Johannes Lott, 
I April 13, Ann Ryder, w. of Ste- 
I phen Ryder, 

Harriet K. Mills, 
I July 27, Ditmars Stoothoff, 
• Aimie Maria Van Zandt, 

( John Thomp.son, c, 
] Eiizabetb. Louge, 
Oct. 19, Stephen H. Lott, 

Maria Duryea, w. of Ben- 
jamin Hegeman, 
Ellen Jessup, wid. of 
Bergen Simonson, 



196 



APPENDIX. 



1849, 
Oct. 19, 

1850, 
Jan. 25, 
May 3, 



July 2. 
Aug. 2. 



1851, 
Sept. 5. 
Dec. 5, 



1852, 
June 5. 



Dec. 4, 

* 1853, 
March 5, 

Sept. 
1854, 

1856, 



1856, 
March, 

1858, 



John Lott Simonson, 
Elizabeth Amberman, 
Phebe Hulst, c, w. of 

Ditmars Stoothoff, 
Deborah Duryea, wid. of 

Isaac Bowne, 
Ida Sprong, w. of Jacob 

M. Duryea, 
Ida Ann Sprong, w. of 

William Foster, 
Ferdinand Van Wicklen, 
Margaret T. Storm, wid. 

of Ferd'nd Van Wicklen 
Morris Covert, 
Ida Jane Eldert, 
John Allen, c, 
Sarah Monfort, c, 
Sally Ann Carpenter, w. 

of George Beanet, 
Phebe Eldert, w. of Mar- 
tin K. Van Sicleii, 
Samuel W. Loweree, c, 
Rebecca Frazee, c, 
Margaret J. Amberman, 
Mary Ditmars, 
Sarah Ann Tompkins, w. 

of Daniel S. Waters, 
Eimira Stoothoff, 
Mary Golder, c, 
John Suydam, c, 
Elizabeth Snedeker, c. 
Rem Rwmsen, 
Nathaniel Nostrand, 
Elizabeth Ditmars, w. of 

Martin I. Johnson, 
Phebe Johnson, 
Ann Eliza Brinckerhoff, 

c, wid. Jeromus Van 

Nuyse, 
William Nostrand, 
Sarah Aim Amberman, 
Rachel S. Amberman, 
Jacob S. Amberman, 
Mary E. Amberman, 
William Stoothoff, c, 
Catharine Pool, c, 
Ida Jane Stoothoff, c, 
Abigail Tompkins, w. of 

Jacob Phraner, 
Julia Ann Stoutenburgh, 

w. of Jesse Champlin, 
Julia Champlin, w. of 

James Ryder, 



1858, Sarah M. Amberman, 
June 20, Nathaniel Sweet, 

Mary Valentine, w. of 

Cornelius Amberman, 
Elizabeth Luyster.c. wid. 

of Garret Montfort, 
Elizabeth Montfort, 
James A. Fleury, 
Henry Onderdonk, Jr., 
Elizabeth Onderdonk, 
Sai'ah Ann Hendrickson, 
w. of J. S. Van Nos- 
trand, 
Sept. Joseph O. Skillman, 
Dec, Sarah Stoothoff, c, w. of 
William Stoothoff, 
Catharine Maria Hend- 
rickson, 

1859, Anna Maria Gorman, w. 
March. of Henry C. Ham, 

Catalina Johnson, w. of 
Eldert Bergen, 
June, Helen M. G. Stevens, c 
Louise H. I. Stevens, c, 
Abigail Ives Stevens, c, 
Dec. Sarah J. Simonson, 
James Stoothoff, 
Mary Catharine Stoothoff 
Eliza Ann Durland, 
Caroline Durland, w. of 
Thomas Hyatt 

1860, Caroline Myckle, c, w. 

of William Phraner, 
March, \ James Lott, c, 

'j Catharine M Gulick, c, 
Ann Louise S. Lott, c, 
Dec. Mary A. Brinckerhoff, 

1861, Jane Catharine Stoothoff 
Dec. Cornelia A. Lamberson, 

Mary H. Lamberson, 

1862, ( Abraham De Bevoise, c. 
"j Anna Maria Covert, c, 

\ John De Bevoise, 
] Malvina Way, 

1863, Sarah Huntting, 
March, Mary Agnes Waters, 
June, Anna A. Ham, 

Elizabeth Waters, 

Florence Hall, 
( Andrew DeBevoise, 
"j Abigail Nostrand, 

Walter Rapelye, 

Mary A. Hendrickson, 



*0n account of the loss of church records, the list from 1853 to 1870 is made up from 
private memoranda and the recollectiou of individuals. Dates so far as known are 
given. The names of those members, the time of whose admission into the church is 
not ascertained, are placed in alphabetical order. The list without doubt for this period 
is very imperfect, many names being necessarily omitted. 



APPENDIX. 



197 



1863, Phebe E. Reeve, c, w. of 
Sept. John H. VanNostrand, 
Dec. John H. Van Nostrand, 

James Rvder, 

1864, Richard Brush, 

j William T. Brush, 
j Sarah E. Smith, 
Catharine Hendrickson, 
wid. of James Hend- 
rickson, 
Susan Mills, w. of Hend- 

rick A. Hendrickson, 
Kate Simonson, 
Ella Simonson, 
J Albert Stoothoff, 
j Sarah Murray, 
March, Mary Ruth Phraner, 
June, Abijj;ail C. Nostrand, 
Mar, 1865, Arabella P. Stoothoff, 
June, 



Dec. 

1866, 
June, 



Martin I. Duryea, 
Elizabeth Van Alst, 
Martha Ellen Phraner, 
Alice Champlin, 
Thomas H. Fredericks, 
Sarah M. Amberman, 
Sarah Elizabeth Rhodes, 
Ditmiii's Eldert, 
John Eldert, 
Mary Catharine Eldert. 
Phebe Eldert, 
Michael Baiseley, 
Sarah Jane Smith, 
James C. Hendrickson, 
Matilda R. Van Siclen, 
Samuel Hendrickson, 
Hend'k A. Hendrickson, 
Matilda J. Hendrickson, 
Phebe A. Ammerman, 
Sarah Mills, 
Annie D. DeBevoise, 
Margaret Amelia Nos- 
trand , 
Anna Nostrand, 
Rem Nostrand, 
Ludlum Fredericks, 
Elizabeth Smith, 
Mar. 1868, Abraham Remsen, 
J George L. Powell, 
j Mary E. Bennet, 

Elijah Alliger, 
! Hendrick Lott, 
' Caroline Way, 
Luther F. Stevens, 
Mary R. Briggs, 
Eliza Valentine (Seaman) 
w. of Nicholas Amber- 
man, 
Ida Davis, w. of Elijah 
Alliger, 



Sept. 
.1867, 



Dec. 



1869, 

April, 

June, 

1870. 



Frances T. Duycklnek, 
w. of Rev. John B. Alli- 
ger, 

Aletta Rhodes, w. of 
John Areson, Jr., 
I John D. Ammerman, 
( Mary Jane Van Siclen, 
Hannah Bennet, c, 

Mary H. Hicks, w. of 
George Bennet, 

Remsen Bennet, 

Phebe Frederick, 

Mrs. Phebe Burnett, 

Ellen G. Tuthill, w. of 
Richard Brush, 

Dorcas Champlin, 

Kate Covert, 

Maggie Covert, 

Sarah Smith, w. of John 
Covert, 

Sarah Hendrickson, w. 
William Covert, 

Elsie Ann Davis, 

Kate Davis, 

Charles J. DeBevoise, 

Jane K. Stockholm, 

Elizabeth Elmira DeBe- 
voise, 

David Ditmars, 

Maria Ditmis, 

Abraham Duryea, 

Benjamin Duryea, 

Jennie DeBevoise, w. of 
John G. V. A. Duryea, 

Theresa Ebert, 

Catharine A. Baiseley, 
w. of Nicholas Emmons 

Henry Fleury, 

Lucy J. Ham, 

Margaret E, Ham, 
1 Andrew J. Hannas, 
' Mrs. Andrew J. Hannas, 

Jared Hasbrouck, 

Mrs. Jared Hasbrouck, 

Elizabeth Martin, w. of 
Stephen Henderson, 

Catharine w. 

of James Hendrickson, 

Mrs. Elias B. Hendrick- 
son, 

Joanna , w. of 

Jacob Hendrickson, 

John S. Hendrickson, 

Hendrick Hendrickson, 

Mary Hendrickson, 

Mary Granger, w. of 
Daniel B. Hendrick- 
son, 

Emma Jane Lott. 



198 



APPENDIX. 



*I870, 
Dec. 17, 



1871, 
Mar. 4, 



May 21, 
June 3, 

Juue 4, 



Sarah Van Nostrand, w. 

of Nicholas Ludlum, 
Mrs. John Nostrand, 
William H. Phraner, 
Sarah Jane Savage, w. 

of Erasmus Peterson, 
Abigail Jane Lott, wid. 

of Joseph Powell, 
Emmeline Hendrickson, 

w. of Abraham Remsen 
j John Eh odes, 
j Sarah A. Bennet, 

Stephen Ryder, 
J Stephen Ryder, 
j Magdalene Van Wieklen, 
Abljy Simonson, 
J. Augustus Simonson, 
j Isaac Simonson, 
j Mrs. Isaac Simonson, 
Abraham H. Smith, 
Alice Smith, 
Mrs. George Smith, 
Mrs. Frank Smith, 
j Isaac Sneileker, 
j Cornelia Eldert, 
Ann Lott, wid. of Andrew 

Stockholm, 
Elizabeth Pawling, c, w. 
of Wm. P. Stoutenburgh 
Isaac T. Waters, 
Aletta A. Griffin, 
Mary Esther Young, C-, 

wid. of Cornelius Nos- 
trand, 
Marv Amerman, c, w. of 

Rev. J. G. Van Slyke, 
Ellen Mulford, c, wid. of 

Daniel Amerman, 
j Francis F. Gulick, c,, 
I Helen Tasker, c, 
Sarah E. Phraner, 
Hester Ann Durland, w. 

of James M. Oakley, 
Phebe Durland, w. of A. 

Ditmars Johnson, 
Sarah Caroline Baylis, 
Aletta J. Durland, w. of 

Abraham Griffin, 
Mary Magdalene Bennett 
Sarah Ham, 
Sarah Catharine VanNos- 

trand, 
Charlotte T. Husson, 
Emily Williamson, 
A. Ditmars Johnson, 
Charles H. Harris, 
William W. Treadwell, 



1871, 
June 4, 



Dec. 2, 

Dec. 3, 

1872, 

Mar. 2, 



June 1, 



Sept. 1, 



1873, 
Mar. 1, 

May 31, 



Sept. 7, 



1874, 
June 7, 



Sept. 5, 



John Van Siclen, 
Elizabeth J. Remsen, 
Harman J. Stockholm, e. 
Maria Gertrude Lott, 
Serena L. Smith, wid. of 

Stephen L. Spader, 
Eliza Ann Whitson, w. of 

Abraham A. Hendrick- 
son. 
John D. Amerman, c, 
Mary B. Disbrow, c, w. 

of George W. Hoyt, 
Gertrude Lott, c, w. of 

James Van Siclen, 
Emily Vermilye, c, w. of 

Elbert A. Brinckerhoff, 
James Aug. Herriman, 
Sarah Prances Ludlum, 
Margaret Fleury, 
Mrs. Emmeline Duryea, 

w. of Wm. Stoothoff, 
Phebe Duryea, w. of 

Isaac R. Snedeker, 
Matilda Hegeman, w. of 

Garret K. Van Siclen, 
Mrs. Frances A.Hewlett, 

c, w. of John Ryder, 
Early Granger, 
John Remsen, 
William Stoothoff, 
Ellen Foster, 
William C. Stoothoff, 
Jane Eliza Lott, w. of 

Abraham DeBevoise, Jr 
David Baylis, c, 
Martha J. Doughty, 
Elbert N. Remsen, 
Kate S. Nostrand, 
Abraham Griffin, 
Sarah Van Siclen, c, w. 

of Garret Griffin, 
Ann Vau Nuyse, c, w. of 

Stephen Voris, 
Susan Rebecca Voris, c, 
Phebe Maria Voris, c, 
Abigail W. Kouwenhoven 

c, w. of Jas. R. Fred- 
ericks, 
Arabella Stoothoff, c, w. 

of Benj. S. Waters, 
Laura Edwards, c, w. of 

Jolin H. Brinckerhoff, 
Carrie Maria Bergen, 
Mary E. S. Willets, w, 

of A. A. Degrauw, 
Mrs. H. W. Starr. 



* Here the chiirch reoords betjin again. 



APPENDIX. 



199 



1875, 
Mar. 6, 



June 27, 



1874, Letty Murray, c, w. of 
Sept. 5, Theodore H. Pettit, 
Dec, 5, James Remsen Freder- 
icks, 
Aletta Ann Fredericks, 

wid. of John Higbie, 
Catliarine Gertrude (Ju- 

lick, 
Lizzie AugustaDeBevoise 
Hester E. DeBevoise, 
Sarah W. DeBevoise, 
Anna J. DeBevoise, 
I Nicholas Lott, c. 
Elizabeth B. Gilbert, c, 
Jane L. Smith, w. of Ed- 
gar Whitson, 
Emma Whitson, 
Lizzie Jones, 
Theodore Lott, 
Sarah Carman, c, w. of 
Ghas. A. Hendrickson, 
Mary Frances Averill, c. 
George Bennet, 
Abraham James Hend- 
rickson, 
Josephine T. Husson, 
Marietta Lott, 
Caroline Amanda Lott, 
Harriet Louise Stevens, c 
Mary Eliz'beth Stevens, c 
Anna E.. Gulick, 
Hiram D. Shultis, 
Brewster W. Baylis, 
W. F. Traphagen, 
Samuel Colton, 
Maria Augusta Lott, 
Charlotte F. Lott, 
Eveline Ham, 
Elizabeth Fleiiry, 
Mary Aletta Powell, 
William L. Fredericks, 

{Peter C. Hendrickson, 
Jane B. CoUison, 
John Hendrickson, 
Mary CoUison. 
( Martin G. Johnson, c, 
I Margaret T. Nostrand, c 
Cornelia C. VanSiclen, c. 
w. of George Nostrand 
Ann Van Siclen, c, wid. 

of George Hoogland, 
Mary E. Hoogland, c, 
Ida Anna Foster, 
Sept. 2, J Jonn L. Pentecost, 
j Maria Sutherby, c, 
1877, Janette Eich, c, w. of 
June 2. Kev. Wm. H. DeHart, 
Phebe W. Van Derveer.c. 
w. of Henrv L. Nostrand 



Dec. 5, 
Dec. 17. 

1876, 
Mar. i, 



June 3, 



1877. 
June 2, 
Sept. 1, 



Dec. 1, 



1878, 
Mar. 2, 



( David Schuyler Reeves, c 
1 Jane Stoothoff, c, 
J George Higbie, c, 
j Amelia Nostrand, c, 
Susan A. Higbie, c, 
Abby Higbie, c, 
Ella B. Higbie, c, 
j JohnH.J.VanGaasbeck.c 
j Catharine Westbrook, c, 
j Elijah H. Nostrand, c, 
j Jane Higbie, c, 
\ Daniel Cobleigh, c, 
] Mary L. Wiswell, c, 
Anna Duryea, 
Cornelia A. Schenck, w. 
of Abraham VanSiclen, 
Aletta Duryea, w. of 
Townsend Albertson, 
Sarah Emma Stoothoff, 
Jennie H. Spader, 
Alice Ann Amberman, 
Annie Westbrook Van 
Gaasbeck, c, 
June 1, j Abraham S. Bergen, c, 
I Maria Suydam, c, 
Gilbert S. Bergen, c, 
Ida Ann Bergen, c, 
Magdalene Bergen, c, 
Annie Bergen, c, 
James Spice, c, 
Catharine J. VanTassel, c 
Sai-ah H. Forman, c, w. 
of Rev. Jacob S. Wyck- 
off, 
Mary E. Fredericks, c, 
w. of Joseph West, 
j Chai-les C. DeBevoise, 
( Anna S. Van Siclen, 
Phebe Young, w. of Geo. 

Durland, 
Eloise DeBevoise, 
Emily Baiseley, w. of 
William S. Williamson, 
Aug. 31, Sarah Baiseley, 
Nov. 30, Maria Catharine Skillmaa 
1879, Georgie Ella Hendrick- 
Feb. 27, son, 

Ida Kouwenhoven Van 

Siclen, 
Harriet Ella Van Siclen, 
Annie Livingstone Pente- 
cost, 
Mary Estelle Powell, 
Ella Louise Darby, 
j Isaac Bennet, c, 
j Sarah Petti tt, c. 
Mar. 1, George Byron Loux, 

Margaret Hendrickson 
Bertien, 



200 



APPENDIX. 



1879, Joanna Agatha Voris, 
Mar. 1, Amanda Mal'na Edwards 
w. of Joshua W. Battee 
Sarah Ann Denton, w. of 
Elijah Raynor, 
j William Edmund Tilton, 
j Adelia Ann Baldwin, 
J John Henrj' Aramerman. 
j Mary Loins Clark, 
Emma Piatt Tappan, c, 
w. of Henry A. Monfort, 
Mary Stillwell Pool, c, 
May 31, A'jjnes ConklinFredericks 
AlettaMa'lda Fredericks 
Catharine Voris, 
Phebe J. Smedes, c, w. 
of John A. Campbell, 
Sept. 5, Mary Eliz'th Fredericks, 
Nov. 19, Ida Kouwenhoven Skill- 



Dec. 6, 



1880, 
Mar. 6. 



June 5, 



1881, 
Mar. 5, 
June 4, 



Sept. 3, 



1882, 
Mar. 5. 



man, 
John Aug'tus Hegeman,c 
Phebe Louisa Eldert, 
Benj, Franklin Everitt, 
Mary Eliza Bay lis, 
Alexander H. Collison, 
Jean Wylie Miller, 
Marietta Lidsay Miller, 
Jane Maria Gulick, 
Stephen Lott, 
Helena Pettigrew Miller, 

w. of Geo. T. Van De- 

verg, 
Samuel G. Cozine, c, 
Lucy Ann White, c, 
Samuel Edmund Cozine.c 
Andrew James Van Siclen 
Ida Jane Stoothoff, 
Anna Cortelyou Hend- 

ricKSon, 
Adelaide Josepliine Clark 

wid. of John Henry 

Conklin, 
Elizabeth Clark Conklin, 
Ellen Augusta Brush, 
Ella Van Brunt Remsen, 
Elizabeth Rapelye, wid. 

of Richard H. Garret- 
son, 
Charles Sterling Wyckoff 
Walter Way DeBevoise, 



1882, 
Mar. 5, 
June 3, 



Sept. 2. 
Dec. 2. 



1883, 
Mar. 3, 
June 2, 



Sept. 1, 



Dec. 1, 



1884, 
Mar. 1, 



May 31, 



Sept. 6, 



Florence Isabella Van 

Siclen Miller, 
C. L. Martin, c, w. of E. 

K. Morris, 
Abram Ella Bergen, 
Sarah Augusta Smith, 
Susan Ann Hoyt, 
Maud Kissam, 
Laurestine Johnson, 
Elvira Campbell, 
Sarah Jane Miller, 
Robert Ham, c, 

Ellas Hendrickson, c, 
Phebe Furman Starkey. 
Ida Reeve Van Nostrand 
Daniel H. Carpenter, c, 
Catharine Johnson, c, 
Aletta Stoothoff, wid. of 

Samuel Eldert, 
John J. Davies, c, 
Emily Hall, c, 
Thomas W. Nadal, c, 
Mary Ann Higbie, c. 
Charity B. Nostrand, c, 

wid. of Abraham Am- 

merman, 
Sarah K. Volckman, c. w. 

of Edwin Johanknecht 
Mary Emma DeBevoise, 
Anna Lilian Davies, 
Annie Statesir Wyckoff, 
Harriet Elizabeth Cross- 
man, w. of William A. 

Warnock, 
Mary Conklin, 
Ersvin Skidmore VanNos- 

trand, 
Emma Louise DeBevoise 
Emma C. Smith, c, w. of 

John Hausmann, 
Isaac Rapelye Snedeker, 
Lulu White Cozine, 
David Langdon Harden- 

brook, 
Andrew Stockholm, c, 
Clara F. R. Bills, c, 
William Forman Wyckoff 
Cornelia Spader, c. 



APPENDIX. 



201 



OCCUPANTS OF PEWS, 1884. 



1. Deacons, 

6. Joshua W. Buttee, 

7. John H. Brinckerhoff, 

8. Howard Pearsall, 

10. Mrs. Jeromus Van Nu'yse, 

11. Garret K. Van Siclen, 
Andrew Stockholm, 

12. Ditmars Eldert, 

13. Martin H. Van Siclen, 

14. Henry Johnson, 

15. Mrs. Stephen L. Spader, 

16. William Dnrland, 
James M. Uaklej^ 

18. Hendrick Lott, 

19. Oliver H. Ryder, 

20. Mrs. Joseph Powell, 

21. William W. Treadwell, 

22. Mrs. George Hooglaud, 

23. John L. Pentecost, 

24. John Covert, 

30. George Miller. 

31. George L. Powell, 

32. Luther F. Stevens, 

33. Harvey Powell, 

34. John J. Davies, 

35. Garret Griffin, 

36. Bailey Brothers, 

37. J. H. Eldert, 

38. George S. Van Wickel, 

39. Martin I. Duryea, 
John G. V. A. Duryea, 

40. Frantlin James Lott, 

41. Mrs. Stephen Lott, 

42. Daniel H. Carpenter, 

43. William W. Stoothoff, 

44. Mrs. Samuel Eldert, 

45. Mrs. Eldert Bergen, 

46. Mrs. Daniel R. Suydam, 
John T. Suydam, 

47. Isaac Snedeker, 
Isaac R. Snedeker, 

48. Henry L. Nostrand, 

49. Mrs. William Stoothoff, 

51. William Foster, 

52. Ludlum Fredericks, 
Thomas H. Fredericks, 

53. Nicholas Amberman, 

54. Daniel Hendrickson, 
Peter C. Hendrickson, 

55. James C. Hendrickson, 
James Van Siclen, 

56. Mrs. Harman J. Stockholm, 
Charles Lott, 



57. 

58. 
.59. 
60. 
61. 
62. 
63. 

64. 

65. 
66. 

67. 
68. 

74. 

75. 

77. 
78. 
79. 
80. 



82. 



83. 
84. 



85. 
86. 



87. 



89. 
90. 
91. 
92. 

94. 
95. 

96. 

97. 

98. 
100. 
101. 
102. 
103. 



Mrs. Jacobus Ryder, 
James Ryder, 
Stephen Ryder, 
Pastor's Pew, 
For Strangers, 
James A. Fleury, 
George L. Brinckerhoff, 
Samuel G. Cozine, 
Samuel E. Cozine, 
James R. Fredericks, 
John A. Hegeman, 
John Hausmann, 
John W. Van Dine, 
Stephen Lott, 
James Stoothoff, 
Lucy J. Ham, 
Elizabeth Montfort, 
Jacob Schoonmaker Amber- 
man, 
Abraham Stoothoff, 
David Baylis, 
George Higbie, 
Henry Oaderdonk, Jr., 
Abraham A. Hendrickson, 
John Hen<lricl<son, 
Mrs. Jacob S. Wyckoff, 
Charles J. DeBevoise, 
Mrs. Andrew Stockholm, 
Joseph W. Conklin, 
Michael Baiseley, 
Thomas Baiseley, 
Aaron A. Degrauw, 
Abraham DeBevoise, 
Charles C. DeBevoise, 
Mrs. John Renisen, 
Abraham Remsen, 
James Lott, 
Alexander H. Colllson, 
Charles A. Hendrickson, 
Martin G. Johnson, 
David J. Purdy, 
Isaac Bennet. 
Ruth Bennet, 
David L. Brinckerhoff, 
Mrs. John H. Van Nostrand, 
Phebe Van Nostrand, 
George Bennet, 
Charles H. Harris, 
Tames Phraner, 
Benjamin P. Everitt, 
William S. Williamson, 
George Durland, 
Andrew DeBevoise, 
George DeBevoise, 



202 



APPENDIX. 



104. Isaac Ainberman, 

105. Nicholas Ludluai, 

106. Mrs. Heiidricli A. Hendrick- 

SOll, 

Jaques V. B. Voris, 

107. Thomas T. Husson, 
8amuel Colton, 

108. Mrs. William L. Hendrickson 

109. Francis F. Gulick, 

110. Francis F. Gulick, 

111. Abraham S. Bergen, 

112. Cornelius Amberman, 

119. John D. Ammerman, 
118. Charles Conklin, 

120. Ann Bergen, 

121. Dr. Thomas Nadal, 

122. Abraham H. Smith, 

123. Isaac C. Eemsen, 



124. 
125. 
126. 
127. 
128. 
129. 
130. 
131. 

132. 



133. 
134. 
135. 
139. 
142. 



Thomas T. Husson, 
Abraliam D. Rhodes, 
Nicholas Lott, 
Stephen Ryder. 
John DeBevoise, 
William A. Warnock, 
Elbert N. Remsen, 
Richard Brush, 
William T. Brush, 
Isaac Rapelye, 
Phebe Hagner, 
Mrs. Richard Garretson, 
Mrs. Jacob Phraner, 
Elijah H. Nostrand, 
Edwin Johankneeht, 
William Voris, 
Elders. 



APPENDIX. 203 



ANNUAL STATISTICAL REPORT 
To the North. Classis of Long Island, April 15, 1884. 



Number of Families 165 

f Received on- Confession 10 

Received on Certificate . . , . 9 

Communicants, ^Dismissed, 5 

Died 5 

[ Total now in Communion 289 

^ ,. , ^Infants 15 

Baptized, -{ , , 

' I Adult 1 

Number of Catecliuraens 75 

„,,,,, ( Number of Schools 2 

Sunday Schools, ■( 

^ Total Enrollment 229 

Contributions, ' \ ^^^^S'^"^ ^°^ Benevolent Purposes $ 514 13 

I Congregational Purposes 3,582 86 



IN^DEX. 



PAGE. 

Academy .74 

Alliger. J. B 103, 145 

Alais-chest 49, 53, 62, 84, 99 

Altar 19, 94, 98 

Ambennan, D 65 

Anabaptists. 23, 135 



PAOB. 

Anderson, Wm 138 

Antonides, V 7, 67 

Apron and Neck-tie Fair 151 

Arondeus, J 44, 48 

Ascension Day 27 



B 



Baird 11, 14, 21, 113 

Baldwin, Eli 92, 94 

Bands. 60, 107, 109 

Baptism 41, 70 

Bason, 70, 124, 159 

Bazaar 162, 167, 170 

Bell 20, 47, 52, 172 

Bell-ringer 75, 83, 90 

Benneway, Peter 56 

Bergen Miss Ann 157, 168 

Bible, 71, 75, 157 

Bible Society 107, 135, 141 



Bier 91, 107 

Billeting 65 

Boel Henricus 41, 44, 67 

Boelen, H. L. .54 

Bostwick, David 42 

Bouquets 146 

Bread 77 

Breeches 56 

Brinckerhoff, E. A. 146. 149, 150, 151 

Brinckerhoff, Aletta 99 

Broadhead, Jacob 103, 105 



c 



Campbell, W. H 107 

Candidate 58, 84 

Candles 91 

Carpet 91,101, 114, 152, 168 

Carroll, J. H 143,145 

Catechism 27, 78, 88 108, 139, 

Cemeteries . . 33 

Centennial 148, 154 

Chairs 18 

Chambers, T. W 105, 135 

Ciiandeliers 104, 115 

Clioir 96, 106, 129, 172 

Cholera 87, 101 

Chorister 91, 162 

Christmas . ; 27 

Christmas Tree . . .' . . . . . liH, 164 

Christening' 70, 163 

Christian Uni(m . 128 

Church Masters 12, 20, 50 

Circle 43 



Classical Visitation. .141, 146, 165 

Classis 98, 130 

Clock 98 

Coetus 34 

Clowes, S 17 

Coal 91 

Cobb, O. E 157 

Cockefer, John. . . 5, 13 

Cole, David 166 

Collections 17,79,106 

Co til ni union 70, 159 

Conferentie 50,55 

r, . ^ -o ( 121, 122, 128, 

Consistory Eoom, j jgg -.An -.(.q 

Cooper, Z. H 75 

Coppers . 19, 55, 83 

Corner-stone . . 81, 91, 122, 172 

Crane, Elias W 96 

Creed 6, 121, 165, 170 

Cuyier, T. L 116, 123 



204 



INDEX. 



D 



PAGE. 

Deacons, List of 186 

Dedication 87, 93, 124 

Deeds.. .....15, 36, 79, 87, 94, 169 

Degrauw, A. A 36, 127, 168 

DeHart, Wra. H 156 

Deinarest, James 96 

DeRonde, L 47,60 

Disbanding .87 

Domine 41 



PAGE. 

Donation Party, . . .104, 106, 128, 166 

Dort, Synod of 19, 25 

Doxology 123, 171 

Draft Riot 132 

Drisius, Samuel 7 

Dubois Walter 67 

Duryea, .. .84, 90, 116, 124, 134, 137 

Dutcli, ,6, 73, 75, 100, 113, 139 

Dwight, M. W 96 



E 



Easter 27, 86, 163, 167 

Elders, List of 186 

East Jamaica . . 142, 147, 170, 177 
EUmendorf, Anthony 125, 108 



Evangelical Alliance ,150 

Evangelical Union 113 

Examination 47, 59 

Excursion. . . 115, 166 



F 



Fast, 



Fairchild, E. S 156 

Fair 91, 102, 104, 106, 115. 159 

( 61, 73, 85, 87, 93, 99, 101, 

) 113, 121, 128. 

Ferris, Wm 140 

Filkin, Henry 15 

Fire 115, 117, 128, 133, 172 

Firemen 115, 128,131 

Firewood 9, 109 

Flowers 167 



Fly 53, 105 

Foresinger 83 

Fourth of July 96, 98, 114 

Fragment Society 91 

Freeman, B ... 7, 67 

Frelinghuysen 35, 37, 47. 67 

Froeligh, Sol 58, 60, 69, 85 

„ , ( 69, 72, 102, 1()7, HI, 114 

j^unerais, -j ^^^ ^35^ ^gg^ ^^..^ 

Furnace 116, 118 



G 



Gallery 105, 106 

Ganon 10, 14 

Garden Party 160 

Garretson, G. J 95, 100 

Gas 125, 147, 153. 158, 



Goetschius, J. H 35, 43, 68 

Gown 60, 107, 109 

Grace Church, . 8, 108, 119, 128, 132 

Griffis Wm. E 153, 165 

Gunther, C. G 112 



H 



Hageman, And ..165 

Hall, B. R 119 

Hammond, J. W 125 

Haynes, M. L 156 

Heermance, H 76, 98 

Hendrickson, Abm 97 



Himrod, John S 125 

Holmes, John McC 130 

Horse She<ls 19, 168, 169 

Hulst, G. D 146, 151 

Humphreys . . 21 

Husson, thos. T 169 



Hessian Hy 73 Hymns of the Church ... 75, 172 



Incorporation! 86 

Independence 96, 98, 125 

Indians 8, 67, 85, 101 



Induction 49,54 

Installation ...59, 96, 104, 145, 156 



INDEX. 



205 



PAOK. 

Jackson, John F 79 

Jamaica 9 

Janeway, J. J 92 



Jews 109, 153 

Johnson, W. L. 94, 108, 115, 125, 136 



K 

Keteltas, Abm 53, 60, 171 I Knob 30, 168 

King, John A 105, 117, 123 Kissam, G. C 125, 171 

Kip 13, 14, 141 I Kuypers, Z. H ...60, 75, 88 



Lampraan, Lewis 169 Liturgy 19, 165 

Lamps 104, 115 i Livingston, J. H 76 

Lansing, John A 159, 141 I Lord's Supper. . .25, 54, 70, 163, 166 

Lead 20, 21 | Lowe, Peter 76 

Le^erts, Isaac 23, 63 I Lupardus, Wm 7 

Legacies 97, 99 , Lutheran 155, 169 



M 



Macdonald, J. M 98, 99 

McKelvey, Alex'r 143,145 

Mandeville, 34, 107, 122 

Manice, D. F 122 

Marriage 51,70,113,170 

Marselus, N.J 107 



Mastodon 122 Music 



Melodeou . 



Members of the Church 191 

Methodists 120, 139 

79, 85, 99, 113 
165, 179 
Mite Society, ........ 154, 158, 179 

Mulligan, John 89 



Missionary Society, 



.96, 104 



I'-^'^l 



N 



Necessary 90 

Newtown 26, 32. 79, 87, 100 

New Years 27, 57, 104, 116 



Nichols, Thos 148 

Noll 9i, 98 



o 



Oaliey, P. D 114, 140 

Ordination 76 

Organ '.'. . 104, 132 



Organist 1 13 

Oysterbay 26, 30, 46, 79, 88 



Paas 27, 57 

Pall , . . . 72, 91 

Parsonage.. .35, 49, 79, 87, 111, 112 

Pastors, List of 185 

Pentecost 163 

Pews, Occupants of ] J^g, m,^2oi 

Pewter 70 

Phraner, Wm. H 165 

Picnic 122, 160, 166 



Pinxter 27, 57 

Plates 19, 90 

Polhemus 5, 149 

Poor 20, 56 

Porter, E. S 105, 117, 146 

Prayer Meetings 62, 106, 124 

Preparatory Service 27, 109 

Presbyterian Church, j jjg^^*^' ^^^ 

Priest, Albert..:,.. 112 



206 



INDEX. 



Primer 71 

Proponent 84 

Psalm-board ,18 



Psalm Book 18, 75 

Pulpit 18, 90, 109, 117, 168, 172 



Q 



Quadragenian 97 I Queens . 

Qualiers 23, 65 | 



,115, 121, 148 



E 



Rates 52 

Religion,*.". 71," 86^ 87, 88," 9l', "97," 121 

Revolutionary Incidents 61 

Ring 43 



Riot 133 

Ritzema, Joliannes 44 

Romeyn, Tlios 45, 53, 68 

Rubeli, J. C 50, 62, 64. 68 



s 



Sabbatti 9, 99 

o , , \ 27, 72.84, 109, 113, 115, 

baiarj, . . -j ^^^^^ j27, 145, 173 

Sand .56, 90, 91 

Sashes 58 

Sayres, G. H 99, 107 

Schol, Cortkwainer 34 

Schoonmaker....62, 68, 78, 107, 173 

Seudder 99, 127, 129, 130 

Seal 20, 91 

Seats 17, 119 

Seraphine 102 

Sexton 105, 155 

Sewing Society 101, 106, 112 

Shepard, C. J 139, 145, 165 

Slierlock 22 

Shimeall, R. C 89 

Singing 47, 83, 84, 96 

Sniitli, N. E Ill, 125 

Slaves 44,54, 64, 79 

Sociable 155 

Soldiers' Aid Society 129, 133 



Soldiers 

Spies 

Statistical Report, 1884 

Steady Gleaners 

Steeple 

Simpson, Edward P 

Stoves 19, 90, 106, 

Strawberry Festival 147, 

Strong 96, 105, 

Stryker, Peter 

St. Ronan's Well, 115, 116, 122, 

Success 26, 31, 50, 76 

Sunday 9, 71 

Sunday Observance . 

Sunday School. Village] l%^i^^^ 

Sunday School, East \ 142, i47, 

Jamaica 'j 177 

Surprise Party 140, 

Sutphen, David S 

Sweeping 56 



130 
125 
203 
181 
.21 
113 
116 
153 
107 
.76 
127 
, 87 
, 99 
166 
115 
175 
170 

152 
153 

.84 



T 



Taxes 114 

Tea 63 

Te Deum 131 

rp ( 87, 98, 139, 143, 148, 

remperance] j,;^_ ^^^^ ^^^ 

Ten Evck, Wm. H 139 



Thanksgivins: 



27, 54, 131, 133, 
137, 164 

Thieves 152, 153 

Thompson, Abm 153 

Tre^isurers 151 

Trustees 81 



U 
U"ion Hall 74, 109, 119, 123 I ^^^.^^^ g^^.^.^^^ 



j 114, 121, 
■ j 127, 164. 



124, 126 
166. 



INDEX. 



207 



y 



Vacation 140, 168 

Van Biiren, John M 1'22 

Van Doren, Isaac 84 

Van Nest 58, 73, 77, 121 

Van Sautvoord, Cor's 67 



Van Sinderen, U U, 47, 64, 68 

Van Slyke, J. G .145, 156 

Van Zaii.lt, \. B 123 

Verbrvek, Samuel 49 

Verniilye, Thos. E 124, 145 



AV 



Wainpnni lU 

Ward. John W la.-) 

Week of Prayer, 139, 146, 161, 16r.,l<;9 

Wells, C L 141 

West, Jacob 125, 150 

Westbrook, Cor's D .92 

Whitehead, Daniel 6 

Whit Sunday 27, 163 



Willianisou, Peter D 106, 107 

Wilson, James B 165 

Wine 57, 77, 90 

Wolf 21 

Wood 84, 90, 109 

Woo'sev, Benj 15, 17, 42 

Wolver"^ Hollow 26, 88, 89 

Wyckoff 141, 171 



Y. M. C. Association 146 | Young Men's Association 182 

z 



Zouaves 131 



OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TO LOCAL HISTORY, 

BY HENRY ONDEEDONK, Jb. 

Revolutionary Incidents of Queens County' 1846 

" " " " second series 1884 

Letters to J. F. Cooper on the capture and death of General 

WoodhuU (cuttings from the Home Journal,)* 1848 

Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties, Battle of 

Long Island and British Prisons and Prison Ships 1849 

Genealogy of the Onderdonk Family (in Riker's Newtown)., 1852 

Queens County in Olden Times, first series. 18G5 

" • " " second series, ready for the press 

Suffolk County in Olden Times, Newspaper Cuttings*. . . 18()5 

Kings County in Olden Times, Newspaper Cuttings* 1866 

Bibliography of Long Island (in Furman's Antiquities,) 1866 

Reformed Dutch Churches and Ministers on Long Island, (cut- 
tings from the Christian Intelligencer)* 1866 

Ancient Agrtculture, Stock-breeding and Manufactures in Hemp- 
stead (in Report of Queens County Agricultural Society) 1867 

Governor Stuyvesant and the Quakers (cuttings from the Chris- 
tian Intelligencer,)*. 1868 

Rise and Growth of the Society of Friends on Long Island and in 

• New York City (in American His. Record,) 1872 

Jamaica Centennial, July 4th, Newspaper Cuttings* 1876 

Letters on School and College Life, Newspaper Cuttings* 1876-8 

Annals of Hempstead, and Rise and Growth of Friends 1878 

Roslyn in Olden Times, Newspaper Cuttings* 1879 

Induction of Rev. Wm. Vesey (in N. Y. Churchman)* 1879 

Antiquities of the Parish Church, Jamaica., 1880 

Antiquities of the Parish Church, Hemp.stead 1880 

Criticisms on Thos. Jones' His. of N. Y. (in Mag. of Amer. His 1880 

Prize History of Queens Co. Agricultural Society 1882 

History of the Turf iu Queens county 1882 

*These cuttings may be seen in the Astor and some other Libraries. 














^' 



r*: 



3^ -J 












LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 109 268 6 







